Lights, Camera, Angel
First Published: 2001
Published By: Constable & Robinson
Angel Number: 10
Personal Favourite: 3
Quotable Quote: Oh, great. Lock, stock, two smoking barrels and discretion.
The Backstory
With Amy being such a well known name within the fashion industry, it was only a matter of time before Angel got into the movies. Even if that means babysitting a moody, but very good-looking rising movie star and keeping an eye on his stalkers.
The vampire movie the actor is starring in is getting unwanted from various sources, some seemingly innocent, but all potential suspects as a lot of people seem to be getting hurt in the line of duty (including Angel).
Aided, abetted and distracted by an OADF's sister, a camp hairdresser and Amy's hormones, Angel's investigation turns nasty when it becomes apparent someone's after his neck.
The Webmaster's Take
Long before I read this book (Angel fix number 6) I was referring to Angel as an East End James Bond. This was, honestly, before I worked out or found out the obvious connections between Roy and James Bond.
Now before you start, oh it's so obvious Fi, everyone knows that, yahdeyahdeyahda, you have to know I am really slow on the uptake. It's maybe why I am generally not the first to say that a plot is "predictable" with a couple of exceptions. I really, really, really did not find out until much, much later. {Holds hands up like body language experts tell you to do when you want to try and persuade someone you're not lying when their eyebrows are disappearing into their bald patch.} Of course, you could say, no connection at all; one is handsome, likes a good drink, is always finding himself in tight spots and carries a gun; the other is....handsome...likes a good drink...is always finding himself in tight spots and....doesn't carry a gun, well, not usually. See? Different.
Wikipedia (which we all know is so reliable) has a few commentaries on who was the original James Bond. One name that crops up is one Major-General Sir Fitzroy Hew Royle MacLean of Dunconnel, 1st Baronet KT CBE, and I'm sure the name is familiar by now. And you thought Roy's name was long winded. It is indeed the same fella, the writer of Eastern Approaches which a certain Christopher Cleves Angel was reading when Fitzroy was born. Fitzroy reckons it's because his father was easily influenced, I think he was just bored, or taking it out on grandaddy Angel for giving him a weird name, so he thought up one weirder. Some authors on Wikipedia, and other sites, bring in other names, usually those working for a government department beginning with 'MI'. However, they all come back to the same conclusion: The original James Bond was, in fact, Ian Fleming himself, with influences from a multitude of other sources; the little boy in every grown man.
Bringing me neatly to Lights, Camera, Angel, for it was obvious that Ripley had insider knowledge, and a series of contacts, which didn't involve watching Absolutely Fabulous.
I maintain that part of the reason for this novel was revenge; the- vampire- who- didn't- want- to- be- a- vampire- and- fancies- Buffy -unfortunately -she's -meant -to -kill -him -really, after all, it started a spin-off which lasted into the naughties and who was the original Angel anyway?
Whether fully justified 'sour grapes', or a present for new friends, Lights is just great. It was second only to Look until a certain Angel's Share came along. Ross Pirie is not the only actor in the tale, a wealth of characters including a snotty producer, fearsome Chinese cousins, a too-butch fitness instructor, a publicity agent with a secret (don't they all?) and maybe the most important job on the set; the hairdresser (the one you have to watch). Oh, and you also get Lulu Luger's sister.
And the climax; built like a miniature blockbuster with punch-ups and fireworks (no, real fireworks), a swimming pool and..a lawnmower. Only Angel.
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