The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

The Stupidest Angel:A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror
by Christopher Moore
$15.99

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: William Morrow; Enhanced edition (November 1, 2005)

ISBN-10: 0060842350

ISBN-13: 978-0060842352

Annotation/Flashtalk:

When Joshua Barker sees Santa murdered the frightened boy is worried Christmas has been ruined.  When an angel appears to grant a Christmas wish to one child, Joshua has the opportunity to make things right – he wishes for Santa to come back to life.  Find out the terror that ensues when Joshua’s wish is granted by the stupidest angel.

Summary:

Pine Cove is a small bedroom community, with its eccentrics, its gossipers, and its share of domestic disputes.  Even the warmth and good tidings of the holidays can’t bring this dysfunctional town much sense of normalcy.  What young Joshua Barker believes to be Santa being murdered is really Lena Marquez accidentally killing her ex-husband Dale Pearson, dressed as Santa, in an act of self-defense.  Joshua runs home where he is visited by Raziel, an angel sent to Earth to grant the Christmas wish of a child; thinking Christmas is ruined, Joshua wishes for Santa to be alive again.  Meanwhile Lena receives help burying Dale’s body from an eccentric, if not insane, helicopter pilot Tucker Case, who has been flying the local area for the DEA looking for marijuana farms. 

In a Gift of the Maji twist, the local sheriff Theo, a pot head, has been growing marijuana to be able to afford a real Asian sword for his former B-movie star wife, Molly; in order to save money to buy Theo the best bong ever, Molly has gone off her medication, and has begun to hallucinate that she really is the B-movie Warrior Babe.  When Theo figures he might be on to something, Tucker, with the treat of exposing Theo’s farm, blackmails Theo into not pursuing Lena as a suspect in Dale’s death.

Unaware, the rest of the community is preparing for the holiday singles party to be held at the local church.  Soon after the party starts, Joshua’s wish is granted.  If only Raziel had been more clear about who he was raising from the dead…

Genre/Subgenre: Humor/Holiday/Christmas

Evaluation: 3-stars.