"Excellent psychological suspense drama"

In a run down part of West Hollywood thirty-four years old Angel Veronchek, son of a thriving producer, lives a near hermit-like existence. Part of it is caused by his being an albino, but much of his hiding is psychological. The recluse sees no one and does little inside his apartment except occasionally work on a screenplay "Los Angeles" while his DVD eternally plays Blade Runner. He survives existence predominantly by psychological drugs.

A new neighbor visits Angel introducing herself as Angela to the loner. She is his opposite as she is an effervescent beautiful black person who plans to one day own Hollywood. Clearly opposites in appearance and outlook, Angela's energy and élan awaken Angel; he quickly falls in love for the first time in his lonely life. Surprisingly, Angela seems to share his deep feelings. Angel struggles with a foreign emotion, happiness until he receives the call. She whispers "Angel" and hangs up; disappearing from his life. Stunned and not ready to go out into the world, Angel investigates his Angela, not even sure she truly exists.

LOS ANGELES is an excellent psychological suspense drama that explores the concept of what is reality mostly from the perspective of Angel. The story line is moving and depressing as the lead protagonist is not an easy person for readers to understand or empathize with; thus this is not a one sitting tale as the dark mutterings (terrific prose) of Angel is disheartening and difficult to accept. Yet this deep look at reality is a two edged sword that makes Peter Moore Smith's tale compelling albeit with a warning label that the "star" is as gloomy a protagonist as one will find.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 24, 2004

Summary

It is a hoarse whisper over a crackling cell phone--Angel-- then the connection is lost. But Angel Veronchek is convinced that the voice belongs to his mysterious and beautiful new neighbor, Angela--and that she is terrified for her life. So begins Angels dangerous and desperate quest to uncover what happened to Angela, a woman he loves and has become obsessed with, but about whom he knows nearly nothing. Angel has his secrets, too. The son of one of Hollywoods most powerful producers, Angel has renounced a world of wealth and glamour to live a lonely existence in the seedy parts of Los Angeles with an unfinished screenplay, a ready supply of drugs, and Blade Runner looping constantly on his television. The exotic Angela acts as kindling for Angels static existence. It is her arrival, and her eerie disappearance, that knocks his solitary, reclusive life off-balance, and plunges him into the sinister world of Los Angeles nights, a world of secrets that arent meant to be told, and people who arent meant to be found.