[Review] The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

Cover image from the goodreads website.

Series or Stand Alone: Pine Cove #3 (Not necessary to read other titles in this series)

Release Date: 28 October, 2008

Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Adult Fiction/Holiday Fiction/Horror/Humor/American Literature

ASIN: B0006IU4W0

Edition: Audiobook (also available in Hardback, Paperback, Kindle, and Audio CD)

Rating: ★★★★☆

Review Written: 2 December, 2019
Warnings: Character Death, Magic, Rude Humor, Dark Humor

Summary:  

Twas the night (okay, more like the week) before Christmas, and all through Pine Cove, California, people are busy buying, wrapping, packing, and generally getting into the holiday spirit.

But not everybody is feeling the joy. Little Joshua Barker is in desperate need of a holiday miracle. No, he's not on his deathbed. But Josh is sure that he saw Santa take a shovel to the head, and now the seven-year-old has only one prayer: Please, Santa, come back from the dead.

But hold on! There's an angel waiting in the wings. (Wings, get it?) It's none other than the Archangel Raziel come to Earth seeking a small child with a wish that needs granting. Unfortunately, our angel's not sporting the brightest halo in the bunch, and before you can say "Kris Kringle" he's botched his sacred mission and sent the residents of Pine Cove headlong into Christmas chaos, culminating in the most hilarious and horrifying holiday party the town has ever seen.

See more by Christopher Moore at his Website.

Generally speaking, I don't typically read adult fiction unless it's recommended by other people. This book came recommended to me by a coworker who was reading it with her book club. I was not disappointed.

If you enjoy books featuring zombies and Christmas, than boy is this the book for you. The occupants of Pine Cove, California are an interesting lot featuring an ex-B rated actress, a former hippie turned cop, and a few domestic disputes that end... well a little less than well. As noted in the description Joshua Barker, a lovely little 7 year old who only hours ago was convinced his mother would kill him for being at his friend's house past curfew, has bigger fish to fry. He's fairly certain he saw Santa take a shovel to the head and he's definitely not coming around on Christmas now... unless he somehow comes back from the dead.

Enter Raziel, the bumbling Archangel who seems to be a few angels short of a full choir, who's come to Earth to find that child who needs a holiday miracle. Surely he can ensure that Joshua's Christmases aren't ruined from here on out by the death of Santa right? Not so fast. Instead of actually working out that what Joshua wanted was for things to be back to normal, Raziel takes him at his word. His word that was, "Please let Santa come back from the dead". Hilarity ensues as this holiday nightmare unfolds for the poor unwitting members of Pine Cove.

Though the story ends with a happy, almost do-over ending, I found myself laughing throughout the entirety of this book. Mr. Moore's writings are hilariously funny provided you don't mind a bit of dark humor. If you're tired of the traditional Christmas Romances and Hallmark Holiday Movies with the same 5 actors, give this book a read and enjoy the hilarity.