When I first read the synopsis of Linda Howard's Death Angel I thought, oh, another suspense romance. I didn't think I would like the story because who would like to read about some social climber who depends on her looks to get comforts in life? I don't. But then, it was Linda Howard, so, I just got on reading expecting the usual romance read. The first few pages got my curiosity a bit. And then as the story progressed, I got hooked. I find the story interesting. This one, to me, is different from the other Linda Howard books. At least, from those I have read. Of course, Howard writes on a variety of topics. Aside from the darkness of the main protagonists, their characters, especially that of the woman, are given a chance to develop.
Drea's character is colorful. Born to an apathetic poor family, the young Drea turned outside to look for love. It ended with her being pregnant and abandoned feeling more alone and unloved. However, despite her being young and having no resources and no one else to turn to, she resolved to keep the child. So that when the child died, it was not the only thing she lost. Drea lost herself, too. She reinvented herself, and made a new life--one very far in distance and in substance to the one she had had. She decided not to depend on anybody, especially not for affection for her happiness. She turned to material things, and consequently, sacrificed her being. She learned one thing from that one experience with the father of her child. She was used when all the while she thought she was loved. She learned she had one very important asset she could use to her advantage--her body. love was a liability. So, she learned to use her looks to hook men who could give her material comfort. She schooled herself to be what the man expected and wanted for a woman in her status. She took on a role so different from her person, that sometimes, she might have forgotten her true identity. But, she took her cunning with her. She always looked after herself, and saved for her future. And, for a while there, she was contented.
And then, she was loaned to another man. She did not like it. She felt like a whore. Although, had known that she used her body to secure her material comforts, at least she controlled her situation. Until that one instance. It was another turning point in Drea's life. She decided to live free to be herself. At this point, she was thinking of herself--no more pretensions, no more role playing. Although revenge was still a part of her motivation, there already was some kind of realization that she had other choices.
This choice, however, led to another loss...of life. This time, her own. Ironically, though, such loss of her own physical existence led to her gaining of her true life. She lost her old life, and gained a far better one. Literally.
During her 'death' Drea realized that her son--the one who truly gave meaning to her existence--was really alive, though in another realm. And so, one realizes that her payers bargaining her life to that of her child's was actually heard. Although in a different way.
So, came a new Andie. Gone were all Drea's glitters, the luxurious and revealing clothes, the pretentious make up, the high heels, the idle life of sex and shopping. Enter an Andie in a waitress uniform, arms muscled with the lifting of heavy trays, living a simple life in a considerably livable duplex. She had this huge amount of money that she didn't want for herself. And besides, she still was in a dilemma how to get it. But this time, instead of living solely for herself, she was living with her eyes on that place with her son. Thinking to 'score points' for her spot in 'that place', Andie would weigh her actions. Although at the back of her mind, she thought she know how to score big time. And it still scared her. She had to somehow pay for her life of material comfort through Salinas' money. She had to somehow stop Salinas. Which was not very easy considering their status. But things got even more complicated when Simon showed up--or rather, when she spotted Simon. After determining that Simon was not out to kill her, Andie was in more confusion. Should she give Simon over to the police? Ideally, that's what she should do. He was a hired killer, after all. It would score her big points. But then it gave her anxiety because whoever or whatever Simon was, she felt something for him. Mulling over this mess, she turned her thoughts on Salinas. Ironically, now that she knew that she was free of Salinas, she realized that she had to confront the man who was wrecking other lives by the drugs he was distributing. The profit of which Andie had been living off on for two years. She was now free to be with Simon, but knew she couldn't. Firstly, she could lose points for living with a cold blooded murderer. Second, she knew Simon could hurt her. Third, she knew Simon would prevent her from getting near Salinas, which made her plans for the mobster difficult to follow through. In the end, her desire to be in that place won. She left her new found freedom and confronted her past. This resolution shows Andie's complete transformation. Her decision to do what was right even if risky, showed some moral maturity.
And then this resolution was tested once again by Simon. His presence weighed so much on her mind. She wanted so much to stop Salinas, but she was also worried what would happen to Simon if something happened to her. She accepted the fact that now, Simon was also her responsibility as much as Simon thought she was his responsibility, too. Here, instead of thinking of only herself, she had another significant person to think about. The constant presence of Simon created more conflict within herself. She knew Simon would do everything to keep her safe, and she feared what he would do. But she knew, too, that she couldn't back down. Until Simon put matters into his own hands and solved her problem. When she learned what Simon had done, she could think of nothing else but to keep him safe, and loved. This was her final decision.
Simon
Simon's development was rather parallel to that of Drea's. He was born and grown up in a rough environment, and did everything to survive. He, most probably was in a constant brawl, and made his first kill at 17. Then he began to develop his personality to suit his job. Until he was what he became. He cultivated no relationship. People, like furniture and other things were treated in the same manner--to be used and forgotten. Until he met Drea. She stirred emotions in him--one he recognized but didn't dwell on. But circumstances did not allow him to forget. He was pushed to pursue her. Drea even made him proud and respect her. Maybe he saw a kindred spirit. He recognized Drea for who she was, and in the same manner, he knew that Drea, too, saw through him the way no other woman or man had ever done. For the first time, he was in conflict whether to take on a job. His dilemma was that he wanted Drea on a superficial way--he admired and respected her smarts. But he knew that if he did not take the job, then someone else would. At first, he enjoyed matching wits with Drea. And then when he saw Drea go over the edge, he felt something more peculiar. He was nervous, and felt he didn't want Drea to die. When Drea did die, anyway, he felt a heavy emptiness. Such emptiness and loss would not leave him, and eventually drove him to seek Drea's tomb, or other information about the woman.
Finding out about Drea's miracle was a turning point in his life. He started to examine his life. Started questioning about his future. About life beyond. Then he vowed to change. From that time on, he quit his job and started to focus on watching over Drea keeping her safe. When circumstances again demanded he returned to his old job, he was no longer detached. This time, it was not an issue of money alone. This time, he had another human being-- a very important one in his life-- to think about. And that made all the difference.
In the end, it was Drea who saved him. He said he had no remorse for his past. All he had was his love for Drea, his miracle, and he had to content himself with that.
As a Christian, I would have wanted him to be repentant, but given his background, maybe he needed more time.
These two characters could be considered in some bizarre way, soul mates. Their characters have undergone transformations prompted by their circumstances.
Definitely not your ordinary romance novels characters.
