Tom Sniegoski

Some other reviewers were kind enough to give a synopsis of the book, so this review is basically for folks with a similar attitude to mine who may benefit by the heads up. I will simply say, that I didn't like *A kiss before Apocalypse*, The first book in the Remy Chandler series and here's why - This is yet another first book in a series, that starts off without a decent character introduction. I rather feel like the reader needs to be part of the character development required for an Angel to leave heaven and form lasting relationships with humans. There needs to be some work done to get the reader to a place where that character makes sense. But as I read a few chapters in to this book, after a few vague allusions to back-story,(that would have been insightful had it been fleshed out) I kept getting the feeling that I'd started the second book first by accident. This appears to be a trend that I've run across it a few times of late, mostly in books that are released as part of an, "A (Character name here) novel", series. To me jumping in to the story without character exposition is a kind of cheap short hand that I find just tolerable in movies and TV shows. In books; I don't much like it. I really wanted to like this book; the story idea is very appealing - what happens when an angel of the Lord settles on earth and starts making a living as a Private investigator? Unfortunately I found the scanty introduction to the main character and his cronies to be off putting in its approach and brevity. I really want to know what happened to make THAT happen before we settle in to the action of the second reel. I read to chapter nine of nineteen where, finally, almost a full chapter of back story was on offer; but no still real character revelation. There may be hope for the subsequent books in this series, but no hope for my reading them. I didn't throw *A kiss before Apocalypse* across the room, (The fate of those most evil of writings) but I didn't finish it either (rather a bit like book purgatory…)… (meer)