Review: The Trial of Fallen Angels by James Kimmel, Jr.

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam (November 8, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 039915969X
• Source: Publisher

Brek Cuttler has the life people pine for: an adoring husband, a beautiful baby girl and a successful law practice. That all changes when she awakes on an empty train platform, blood covering her clothing. She soon realizes she has died and has been given a new, enormously important role in her new “life” in heaven: she has been chosen to join an elite group of lawyers whose sole role is to prosecute and defend those souls facing their final judgement.

The individuals Brek is assigned to represent at first seem meaningless to her, but eventually she discovers that seemingly unimportant events in her life have led her to this very moment, allowing her to finally uncover the cause of her own death. For those individuals whose lives cross her path, every act of kindness or cruelty help determine their ultimate fate. Able to experience their individual lives first hand, Brek sees a side of each of them that alters her opinion, once their identity and relation to her own life are revealed. She learns quickly that, as in life, the justice dealt must be fair, that one individual cruel action in life doesn’t result in a less desirable fate, just as one act of kindness doesn’t reverse a deplorable action.

A dynamic host of characters join Brek on her journey, many representing individuals from her own life. They walk side by side with her as she, through the lives of those she’s representing, she learns of the act that lead to her death.

It is nearly impossible to characterize this novel into one genre. While there are aspects of spirituality, don’t let that lead you to believe this is a religious novel. Themes of love, forgiveness and much more run throughout this incredibly dynamic novel. Most importantly, however, is the idea that one’s fate isn’t only determined by that individual themselves, but those around them, those that have an impact on their lives, no matter how minor. Quite the emotional subject matter, readers will experience every emotion imaginable, from sadness to exhilaration and anger.  This is a book that will continue to linger in the heart and souls of its readers, long after the final page is read. Highly recommended.