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Rating: 
Summary: Very good (as all Flashman books are)but not the best
Review: Another great Flashman read, although certainly no where near as clever or funny as some of the early in the series. Some very interesting historical information as always, and Flashman is inserted into history rather well. But the scope/focus of the book is a little to narrow, and the main focus of the book really not all that interesting from a late 20th Century reader's perspective. Flashman's ideaology seems to come out rather more in this book, and its a bit of a worry from an experienced Flashman reader's point of view that he *has* one! :-) I'm looking forward to the book which details Flashy's exploits (or lack of them) in the US Civil War - I hope that will set the standad as a real Flashman classic.
Rating:
Summary: Only for fans (of either Flashman or John Brown.)
Review: As a dedicated Flashman fan since discovering the first in the series in 1974, I was disappointed. I had, of course, both to read it and have a hardback copy for my collection, but I hope Mr. Fraser isn't running out of steam or humor. Neither of the two immediately previous books (Dragon and Mountain of Light) were especially funny, but they were both fascinating and satisfying without being as contrived as this one is. I think I disliked (relatively speaking) this one for the same reason I disliked (relatively speaking) Royal Flash: it was very contrived. One great thing about the Flashman series has always been the ease and seamlessness with which Mr. Fraser has inserted our protagonist into history. Perhaps this is a preliminary to his book about Flashman in the Civil War, which I've been waiting for for what seems like forever, probably since reading Flashman's Who's Who entry in the first book. I hope Mr. Fraser writes that book next and that he does all he can to make it worth a twenty-three-year wait.
Rating: 
Summary: a first-time Flashman reader
Review: Flashman and the Angel of the Lord was my introduction to writer George Fraiser and "his" character, Harry Flashman. I was impressed and pleased. Impressed with Frasier's scholarship (the fictional Flashman's interactions with real historic persons and events is accurate, as his extensive endnotes demonstrate). Pleased with the irreverant, wholly unconventional and most certainly un-PC character of Harry Flashman. In the Angel of the Lord, Flashman - a scandalous character "resurrected" from the 19th century novel Tom Brown's Schooldays and a self-described "bully, poltroon, cad, turncoat, lecher and toady" - finds himself aiding John Brown in his raid at Harper's Ferry. Conspiracies abound with several factions enlisting the "assistance" of Flashman to either foil the attempt or help pull it off. The misadventures of Harry Flashman as he navigates the intrigue and double-dealing combined with the Fraiser's rapier-like wit and irreverant style had me riveted to the story line while laughing out loud. I will certainly read the remainder of the "Flashman Chronicles" and I recommend this one highly.
Rating: 
Summary: Signs of Decline
Review: I'm a big fan of this series, but I have to say it's in decline. The first book is good, the second is brilliant (yes, it's contrived. It's also a superb comic novel), the next two published: "Flash for Freedom" and "Flashman at the Charge" are both first-rate. The next one published, "Flashman's Lady" wasn't particularly good, and it's downhill from there, with signs of life in "Flashman and the Redskins" but not much else. I tried to read this book some years ago, and gave it up. I only made it through this time because I was determined, and determination is what you need. There are no less than three plots to get Flashman to help John Brown, by three different groups, and explained, ad nauseum, in three different patois. Characters from previous Flashman books show up: a good thing in the case of John Charity Spring, but fairly pointless in the case of Annette Mandeville and Crixtus. The book has a truncated feel, as if it has been either heavily edited or padded. Or both. It's still fun to spend time with ye olde Flash, shameless as he is. His lack of political correctness (this was one of things that rescued "Flashman and the Redskins") is still a joy. But Fraser appears a bit tired. The deadpan footnotes that made "Royal Flash" such a knee-slapper are long gone. Too bad.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most boring of the Flashman series
Review: Much time is spent for a plot that covers a very small period of time in history. A lot of re-hashing prior plots and more emphasis than necessary on Flashy's trashy exploits.
Rating:
Summary: Signs of Decline
Review: None of it probably needed to be said. If you read one Flashman you'll read them all. Dig out your pocket book.
Rating:
Summary: The other reviewers have said it all.
Review: None of it probably needed to be said. If you read one Flashman you'll read them all. Dig out your pocket book.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely perfect
Review: One thing Fraser has never done in the Flashman Papers before is to play fast and loose with history, except to the smallest extent necessary to insert Flashy into the action. In this book he invents a pre-Civil War secret group of immense power and with no basis at all in fact. What a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: On Par With The Other Flashman Chronicles
Review: This is not the first Flashman book to deal with a setting in America or the issues of slavery and the ante-bellum South. In fact, it's the third. Flash for Freedom and Flashman and the Redskins both touch on the subject. And if Mr. Fraser lives long enough, there are at least two others he has hinted at which will cover other aspects of the periods 1850-53 and 1861-65. However, its highly doubtful that the ingenious Mr. Fraser will live long enough (he's in his 70's) to "edit" the much awaited Civil War volume. Therefore, we Flashmaniacs must likely content ourselves with this fine, but hopefully not final, chapter. The novel brings back several old characters from Flash for Freedom, including the delightfully decadent Mrs. Mandeville. It is much much tighter in its focus than any of its predecessors, covering just a few months in 1859. However it is also more practiced in its character development and insights into the period. While this tenth Flashman novel (eleventh if you count the bland Mr. American) may only be for true afficionados, I think it's one of the best. So while Flashy developed some moral fiber in Mountain of Light, in Angel he shows some introspection. Once you read one, you'll read them all anyway, so this review is entirely unnecessary.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely perfect
Review: This is the third Flashman book I've read, Flashman and Royal Flash being the other two. After being disappointed with Royal Flash, I was overjoyed with this book, in which Mr. Fraser has reproduced the brilliance he showed in Flashman. The dialogue is wonderful, the plot tight and unpredictable, and the action breathtaking. The only blemish was the sloppy last few pages, which seems to have been slapped on with a deadline fast approaching. That's a small flaw in this gem though. Read it!
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