Title: Lumbering towards disappointment
Product review: I sat down on a flight to Chicago, looking forward to demolishing the new Robert Harris. 'Enigma' had been a reasonable read, if a little over done. Sadly, 'Archangel' was hard work. Great concept, and a pretty good initial hook, with Fluke Kelso uncovering this slender link to the hidden memoirs of Stalin. The first fifty or so pages sets up the premise and the story builds with some momentum....but by page 150, it still feels like set up!Harris's style takes a bit of digesting and does not make for a fluid, easy read. His knowledge of history is great and I now feel better briefed on Russia's legend and culture. But his characters are a bit wooden and I never got to connect with Fluke Kelso.The final few chapters do have some pace and some action, but it's more like Rambo than the 'great literary thriller' the cover boasted! Harris can do better and will do better. Harris is a writer worth sticking with - but not if he serves up another of these!
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