***** MINOR SPOILERS *****

I enjoyed this book immensely.....so much so that I've ordered the other books in the series. Penn Cage is definitely a character that I'm interested in reading more of.

My one and only criticism is the unbelievability in regards to some of the relationships. I don't have the big issue with Dr. Elliotts and Kates relationships that some of the other reviewers do.....its reality....it happens.
Ok, then you have a coach also sleeping with a teen.... not unheard of.....although, being in the same community as Dr Elliot makes it a bit of a tough sale.
But now we're supposed to believe that Penn...who has a young daughter....lost his wife a few years back.....and currently in a relationship with a woman he's supposedly crazy about....also falling for a high school senior?? It seems as though Greg Iles may have a teen girl fetish.

All in all, it was a good book and I'm looking forward to reading the series. ( )

As an avid reader, my first choice of genre is usually drama or humor. Favorite authors include Richard Russo, Murakami, Nelson DeMille and countless others. But as of the past months, Greg Iles has risen to the top! Turning Angel is the 8th book read by this author and I plan to read the rest.

Meticulous at developing a 'launch pad for action', the reader is engaged from the very start. What's unique about Greg as a suspense/crime author is how he weaves humanity and family into an explosive story filled with unexpected plot twists and action. Penn Cage, a former prosecutor turned author is a great character; dedicated to the city of Natchez, his family and daughter, his integrity is unquestionable. Quentin Avery, a black high power attorney is reminiscent of Atticus Finch (Mockingbird). Whether antagonist or protagonist, the characters are engaging and filled with surprises.

For those who enjoy stories of depth, prefer page turners to romance and seek an author who's mastered the craft, Greg Iles should be added to your 'to read' list, Turning Angel included. ( )

Turning Angel, the second in the Penn Cage series, is a gripping thriller that focuses on the privileged teens attending St. Stephens, Penn's old high school. In the dying city of Natchez, Mississippi, the kids are making risky choices, which inevitably lead to illegal sex, drug use, and murder. After the police discover seventeen-year-old Kate Townsend's pregnant body in the river, Drew—Penn's close childhood friend—is arrested by a DA with his own agenda. As racial and political issues grow in the wake of another death, Penn realizes he might be the only one who can save his friend from being convicted of a murder he didn't commit.
The book sucked me in immediately and kept me hooked with plot twist after plot twist. I found the characters authentic and complicated. Some are disgusting but still authentic. I can see from the reviews that some people consider the subject of underage sex distasteful. So is rampant drug use in our schools. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen. That part of the book didn't bother me. My only critique concerns the main character's choices. Penn Cage is a widower and a single father to Annie, his nine-year-old daughter. The entire story is about his quest to save the life of his friend, Drew Elliott, by proving he didn't kill his girlfriend so he could be there to raise his nine-year-old son, Timmy. Yet, Penn recklessly risks his own life—which would leave Annie motherless AND fatherless—by pursuing dangerous drug dealers without backup or even a weapon over and over again. In this respect, some of Mr. Iles' plot choices were frustrating. However, after our hero's run-in with Cyrus, we are reminded that Penn is only human. ( )

love Penn Cage!! ( )

The books are lengthy, but they are good. ( )