Dead and Dying Angels

by James A. Mangum

The Vinegaroon Murders (Volume Dos of The Dos Cruces Trilogy), winner of the 2006 Writer's League of Texas Violet Crown Award, is best described by Eric Snider of the Tampa Weekly "a desert gothic theosophical detective thriller." Jamey Maxwell just wants to carve his saints...BUT HE HAS GOD'S WORK TO DO. Pobrecito. No le hace. A young couple has been murdered. Their bodies found on a ranch in West Texas covered with vinegaroons...Alacranes del Diablo. To solve the crime, Jamey finds himself on an odyssey through West Texas, with a brief stop in San Antonio, a world of old money and new greed. He will cross the paths of a disillusioned psychiatrist and her sadistic husband; a prophetic barmaid; "The Three Stooges and a Texas Ranger"; a young shepherd; an eccentric entomologist; and other strange "creatures" on his way to Hell. His descent is a slippery slope, lubricated by a demented demon, who offers this thought for "Eternity's a bitch, and then it's not over."

213 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2005

Reviews

[jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one I am reading again due to the magic which unfolds after every page. I am struggling to read 5 books all at the same time... It deals in all sorts of religion (the sole backbone of this book is GOD), and it has a tragic, hilarious, frightening story. It is all in Texas and at one point actually ends up in Alpine. Hard to come by in any conventional means yet a read worth while. Mine has an autograph that makes me smile like a kid opening his Christmas presents and finding his very first Nintendo. Yes, I am a dork. Buy this book for the simple fact the first part is titled "Please Excuse Me, I'm Killing Myself".


Randomly enough, I hear they have made a movie deal. This information comes from my newly found friend whom owns a wonderful little book store in Alpine Texas.

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Things I objected to:

* lack of plot (what was up with the two sisters? why did the protagonist need coded clues when it was obvious who was responsible?)
* gratuitous everything
* treatment of women

In particular, the language used to describe the female district attorney "love interest" is troubling. Why is the author so intent on infantilizing a character that we are told is a powerful woman?

“I had the urge to say ‘you sure are cute when you cuss,’ but I stifled it.” 147

“Toward the end of this short monologue, Mari sounded like a little girl.” 147-148

“She looked a little girl playing dress up in her gray pinstriped power suit. I smiled, but only on the inside.” 153

“Dwayne struggled to his feet, but was making no threatening moves out of fear of being blown away by what looked like a little girl who, on the way to church, in her best Sunday clothes, decided to jump in a mud puddle.” 186

“Control was Marisol Cortinas’ now totally useless defense mechanism. A little girl lost in a great big shit-filled world. I feared she would not be able to handle the consequences. Unfortunately I was right.” 200

Then we have this scene:

I pointed my gun at Dwayne’s limp genitals and said, “Now, make it hard Dwayne.”
“I can’t. I…I…I just can’t …please!” Wrong answer Dwayne. The bullet from the Model 59 ricocheted between Dwayne’s legs.
Instantly he began fondling himself – stroking rapidly back and forth. But the pressure and tension was too much for Dwayne. Nothing was happening.
…
Mari walked up to Dwayne DuBois and said flatly, “Don’t worry, Dwayne. I’ll make it hard for you.” But it was no longer the Marisol Cortinas I knew speaking. And she did make it hard for him. Mari was acting out her role in this hellish drama, which was being directed from above, I suppose. And I stood there, watching, without emotion.
…
“Now Dwayne, get on your knees behind Luther,” the disembodied voice spoke. “Do it now. Do it fast.”
“I’m sorry Luther… they made me do this! I don’t wanna do it. I…I…I’m sorry!” Dwayne sobbed.
Luther did not struggle and he could have I would say I was surprised but that would be a lie. At this point in the Strangest Show on Earth, there were no more surprises.
Luther was silent for a second and then let out a piercing scream. The moans and the screams coalesced, as did Dwayne and Luther. It only lasted for a few seconds, but God’s will had been done. 189-190.

What. Why would it be necessary for this innocent woman to give a rapist and murderer a blowjob? handjob? in order for the protagonist to enact his vengeance fantasy of forced sodomy? As a female, NOPE. I shouldn't have to explain myself any further. As for the plot angle where the vengeance killing is called in as a homosexual murder-suicide... still not seeing it. As I said, gratuitous everything.

I see that some of my fellow reviewers have said that this title is meant to be a parody, and is full of black humor.



Is it?

Maybe I don't have the right sense of humor.

Heavy on Sex, Profanity, and Violence.

[Tommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came upon the first two novels at the austin book festival, when i really didnt want to be there. I dont think i so much as picked up a book until reaching the table containing The Dos Cruces Trilogy. Something in the title of "Dead and Dying Angels" just captivated me, and made me buy it. And with the second novel signed and ready to go as well, i couldnt resist. I really enjoyed the novel. I'm pretty sure that Daniel, was not at all giving a confession, but instead was trying to tell the cops what happened to Angelita. I think this because he learned those hand gestures from the run in with Los Diablos. So anytime he makes them, he will instantly recall that day. Yet, he is unable to communicate through hand signals and tex-mex that thats where he learned them. But with a handicap of mental retardation, I dont think there was much he could have done. Towards the end, when our protagonist is finishing God's work really made my stomach turn over. And im really not used to this feeling, i watch shows like CSI and Dexter with glee and interest. But the way he goes about it, Jamey's version of God's work just gets to me. I highly reccomend this novel (in fact ive already lent it to someone), and will definently look forward to the authors upcoming publications. One last note, has anyone figured out what happened on his ninth birthday? if so tell me, or leave euphemisms giving the gist of it in the comments.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't bad. I just didn't like it. It was well written... and some of the characters were interesting, if not cliché. There were a few parts I found a little hard to grasp. Such as Daniel's talking to the police... when he really doesn't talk to anyone and is nervous around strangers. The whole setup with Daniel was just... weird.

Um. Yeah. Not much else to say really. I think that this is just a book you either like or you don't, and I wasn't too fond of it.

[Dustin Manning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rereading this almost fifteen years later I really got to thinking how different a man i am than back than. I’ve always been a revenge loving kinda guy but as i grow older I’ve also learned a lot about literature, plot and psychology. This book didn’t grab me as it once did, and i found it quite problematic at points not to mention its writing is a touch “all over the place”. Still going to finish the trilogy ( i never actually read the final book and they’re quick reads.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful tale involving an apprentice Santos maker. Book 2 in the trilogy.