Rating: 
Summary: What would you do?
Review: A mans life has fallen apart. His wife has left him, his daughter is in a mental hospital- unable to speak or function anywhere close to a normal level. Life is passing him by, and he is still confronted with daily reminders of the tragedy that took everything from him. He feels responsible. The legal system doesnt work, so he decides to take matters into his own hands.Tim Green has crafted a novel that will make the reader ask some serious questions. What would you do if your child were abducted, molested and then left catatonic in a mental hospital? What would you do if you knew that the man responsible was getting out of prison early? What would you do if you has the means and the knowledge to stop some of the twisted preadators that stalk the streets looking for children to torture and destroy? Jack Ruskin, the main charachter in this new novel, has decided upon a course of action in order to atone for his failings (he feels) as a father and his inability to prevent the abduction and molestation if his own daughter. He is a high priced attorney who deals with criminals everyday. He knows the mistakes that they make when a crime is committed. He knows how the police conduct an investigation, what they look for, how they find it and who is called in. Is it murder? Is he an avenging angel of death come to deal out destruction to those that would prey upon the innocent? Is he a saint? or a sinner? Sane, or is he just as unstable and guilty as those that he punishes? Thats for the readed to decide. Either way, this book will make to look into the helplessness of a father and the galvanizing power of guilt. Vengance is a funny concept, really. At what point does murder become justified? How far will one father go to get his girl back and escape the spectres that continue to haunt his life? The Fifth Angel is a well written, quick-paced book with plenty of action and suspense. Although the charachters in the book seem a bit two-dimensional, it is still worth reading and pondering. What would you do? We get a sense of how the world can continue to fly by and yet, for those dealing with greif, seem to come to a complete standstill. Unable to focus on anything other than revenge, how far will Jack go in order to see that justice is dealt? He becomes a man obsessed, determined to destroy the man who shattered his little girl. Tim Green has written an engaging piece of fiction that will pull that the heartstrings of that that read it. As the pages fly by, we get a sense of Jacks determination, desperation and cycle of self destruction as it teeters on the brink. Read this book, think about the scenarios that it presents and then ask youself the same question... What would you do?
Rating:
Summary: An effective and highly recommended thriller
Review: Attorney Jack Ruskin is torn by the anguish that his daughter was sexually assaulted by a child molester. His daughter is now institutionalized and his wife has left him. His previous life is shattered. As a means of revenge, he has become a vigilante killing child predators throughout the country. On his tail are highly accomplished FBI agents trying to stop Jack from taking the law into his own hands any further.
Tim Green has written a highly suspenseful thought provoking tale as to what truly constitutes evil. Is Jack Ruskin a criminal? The reader would tend to side with the opinion that he is in fact a hero. His victims are shadowy figures with little room for sympathy as depicted by the author. The pacing becomes relentless as we follow Jack on his quest for revenge and, incidentally, in his attempt to turn his life around. Effective simple and direct episodes are used in conveying this effective and highly recommended thriller. I would definitely seek out this author's other work.
Rating: 
Summary: WOW!
Review: Don't start this one unless you have time to finish it because you will not be able to put it down.....it really makes you think...what would I do? Excellent read!
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Page-Turner!
Review: I am such a fan of TIM GREEN. I think of his seven (yes, that's right "7" previous thrillers, "The Fifth Angel," is my favorite. I give this practicing attorney "5" Stars on this MUST READ sure-to-be BESTSELLER! The characters are believable, the dialogue interesting and passionate, and the plot a real PAGE-TURNER! A Highly Recommended Novel! Take "10" writer, Green, you've earned it! (Brains and beauty...not just in women...how cool is that?)
Rating: 
Summary: A Total Disappointment - They Should Have Saved The Trees
Review: I have been a Tim Green fan and looked forward to this book with great anticipation after my enjoyment of LETTER OF THE LAW and especially THE FOURTH PERIMETER, which I highly recommend. I think the author chose a great title for his subject (the Biblical reference is explained in the book), and although the idea of vigilante justice has been previously examined by many authors Green's twist certainly seemed to have promise. However I am being kind to say his execution is pedestrian, there is no inspiration, surprise is totally lacking and furthermore his characters are really caricatures of themselves. There is no discussion or examination of the morality of the situation in which they find themselves. This is especially disappointing given the potential of the story to involve a recognition of the complexity of the issues involved and engage in a nuanced examination of those issues. Jack Ruskin is a partner in a prestigious law firm and a former prosecutor whose fifteen year old daughter Janet is abducted and brutalized by a man who preys on young girls. Although she eventually escapes, she has been so traumatized that she is institutionalized in a near catatonic state. Without her testimony and the inadmissibilty of some evidence due to incorrect procedures utilized by the police, the perpetrator receives a minmal sentence. Jack considers himself responsible for her condition; he eventually becomes a psychopathic killer utilizing his knowledge of the law to locate and kill pedophiles who have committed similar crimes. He also understands police investigatory procedures and the rules of evidence so he manages to avoid detection for a while. At the same time, FBI agent Amanda Lee, a specialist in apprending sexual perverts, solves a case but the death of another agent leaves her traumatized and questioning her ability to capably fulfill the dual roles of mother and professional investigator. And Jack develops a romantic relationship with Beth, an adminstator at his daughter's facilty. This of course provides him with some psychological stabilty. David McGrew, a young, ambitious and politically connected cop notices the pattern of murders commited by Ruskin and Amanda then gets assigned to work with him. Of course, they eventually track down Ruskin and a public debate ensues regarding the morality of his actions. Meanwhile, Amanda's family is threatened by the suspected partner of the suspect who she killed in the previous case. There is an incredible sense of foreboding as the story hurtles towards its conclusion. Obviously a serial murderer such as Jack cannot overcome his complusion to fulfill his destiny, and by so doing he therefore will inevitably further hurt the daughter who so desperately needs his support and alienate Beth, his only life preserver. However, miraculously at the conclusion of this very depressing story suddenly in a well telegraphed series of events everything ends well for the avenging angels Jack and Amanda and badly for the forces of evil. This book could have been a meaningful examination of the tragic impact that sexual perverts have on children, the inadequacy of our current judicial system to deal with the problem, and the moral ambiguity of the choices faced by Jack and the law enforcement officers who pursued him (or in some case chose not to do so). But the only person whose actually understands that Jack's actions are not compatible with the rule of law in a civilized society is McGrew, who is otherwise the greatest caricature in the whole book. I find it appalling that an author who is actually a lawyer would conclude this book in the way that it ends, and hope that it was not just for profit but because of some experience that he had that deeply and perhaps understandably colored his view of the issues involved. So as my title said, they wasted the paper it took to publish this. It is one of the few books that I have ever read that could only get more subtle and suspenseful as a TV movie. I will only read another Tim Green book if it gets rave reviews from reviewers who I trust. In the meantime, skip this and spend your time reading THE FOURTH PERIMETER.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling story that will cause you to think...
Review: I just finished Tim Green's The Fifth Angel, and it's a very good read that tears at you. A man's daughter is kidnapped, held captive, and is physically and sexually abused. She is found, but is committed to a mental institution. After his life is nearly destroyed, he determines that no child molester should be allowed to walk free. Using his job that has him on the road quite a bit, he starts executing known molesters. He doesn't find the peace he seeks, but he's driven to keep doling out his form of justice. Meanwhile, a female FBI agent and a pompous police detective are paired up to hunt down the killer. They have a bead on him, but no one is pushing hard to bring him in because of the targeted victims. She believes her pursuit of the killer to be right until her own children are abducted and she has to confront the kidnapper with the help of the vigilante. This is one of those novels where the "good" guy is the criminal and the "bad" guy is the victim, and you have to decide whether retribution or justice is deserved. You feel for the vigilante, as you'd probably experience the same frustration if it was your child. Conversely, if everyone decides to take justice in their own hands, anarchy would reign supreme. While the story line is well done, it will cause you to question your feelings.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling story that will cause you to think...
Review: I just finished Tim Green's The Fifth Angel, and it's a very good read that tears at you. A man's daughter is kidnapped, held captive, and is physically and sexually abused. She is found, but is committed to a mental institution. After his life is nearly destroyed, he determines that no child molester should be allowed to walk free. Using his job that has him on the road quite a bit, he starts executing known molesters. He doesn't find the peace he seeks, but he's driven to keep doling out his form of justice. Meanwhile, a female FBI agent and a pompous police detective are paired up to hunt down the killer. They have a bead on him, but no one is pushing hard to bring him in because of the targeted victims. She believes her pursuit of the killer to be right until her own children are abducted and she has to confront the kidnapper with the help of the vigilante. This is one of those novels where the "good" guy is the criminal and the "bad" guy is the victim, and you have to decide whether retribution or justice is deserved. You feel for the vigilante, as you'd probably experience the same frustration if it was your child. Conversely, if everyone decides to take justice in their own hands, anarchy would reign supreme. While the story line is well done, it will cause you to question your feelings.
Rating: 
Summary: Good idea, poor execution, poorer character development
Review: I swore some time ago I would never read another of those awful stories about subhumans who murder kids. But this is one is not graphic - just suggestive. The idea was a good one...man loses daughter (rather her mind) to some creep who doesn't deserve a another day of life much less his proverbial day in court. The hero, a lawyer, does something we all dream about - he begins a journey of justice, giving the creatures who commit these deeds a one-way trip to the next life. During the course of the book we learn his wife left him, his daughter is catatonic and he has fallen for a friend of the family. The author tried to have two stories of equal import that arched and joined into a predictable conclusion. The trouble was that neither of these was developed smoothly. The writing was choppy, the hero continually breaking down or going slightly mad at the drop of the hat. The heroine, an overworked FBI investigator/mother, has one of those typical book marriages - enthralled with her job, guilty as hell, rolypoly hubby who grows bitter, two cute kids. She is finally assigned the case of finding the vigilante and, of course, the finale is a mixed up meeting of heroine, hero, hubby, children, bad boss, bad guy who killed daughter and bad guy's boy friend. Hero goes to trial, gets out shortly and lives happily ever after with new love. There is not a lot of depth here (easy one night read) but in the right hands this could be a barn burner.
Rating:
Summary: The Fifth Angel
Review: I've read most of Tim Green's books, and I believe that this book is his best to date. I look forward to his next book.
Rating:
Summary: Revenge and Redemption on Angel Wings
Review: In the Fifth Angel, Green does a magnificent job in putting together a novel of suspenseful intrigue. A good vs. evil theme coupled with the ultimate moral dilemma of just who within our society deserves to live and who deserves to die establishes a magnetic like tension for the reader.
Enter protagonist lawyer Jack Ruskin with deep seated anger and revenge on his mind. Out on his personal mission of avenging the emotional loss of a daughter who was raped as a child and is spending her days, heavily medicated, in an asylum. His goal: to rid the world of convicted pedofiles who he is convinced cannot be rehabilitated and if given the chance will continue to commit crimes against children.
Green's gift as a writer is in his use of descriptive language reminiscent of Steinbeck. At the same time he is able to tell a story that captivates and brings forth emotional responses from the reader. The meaning of the book's title is revealed within the text and adds a spiritual like quality to the protagonist's actions. Jack Ruskin's path of revenge and final redemption makes for high reader satisfaction.
A must read for anyone who enjoys the legal thriller with unexpected twists and turns along the way. The Fifth Angel a winner from start to finish!
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