Rating: 
Summary: This was my first mystery novel in years...
Review: ...and I found it to be well worth the read. The story is well constructed, the characters are quite interesting and the action called for head-and-page turning. The depictions of Black professional and social life in D.C. had me feeling like I had to know these people. I got a little lost in some of the departmental acronyms (I would advise readers to make a note or two) and the mythical references, but overall, the book was a simple pleasure to read.I hope that Brother Chambers can finagle a movie deal out of this one. If the casting and production quality match the level of the original work, he just might have a major hit on his hands. I recommend this book for all fiction and non-fiction readers, and I look forward to the next Angela Bivens work. I truly hope that I can soon look back on my first book and feel that it was as well written.
Rating: 
Summary: Angela Bivens Mystery
Review: Crisply worded and masterfully woven, Sympathy for the Devil is a tough, yet tender thriller depicting the complex FBI agent Angela Bivens, who while pursing the murderer of two young girls, falls in love and places much more than her heart at risk. Chambers skillfully combines his talent for understanding crime and suspense with an uncanny knack of delving into the mind and soul of a passionate, driven woman, and the resulting high-tension mixture leaves readers perched on the edge of their seats, blood pumping, and thirsting for more.
Rating:
Summary: ...reading a movie!
Review: In Sympathy for the Devil you meet FBI agent Angela Bivens. I really liked this book. I am not a fan of Tom Clancy, Stephen King or even the "thriller mystery" genre but this book really got my attention. The story is so vivid and clear its like reading a movie! The book didn't let me down because I couldn't figure out who did what until the end. It was a challenge to keep up with all the technical names but once you get into it you will not want to put it down until you know Angela has got her man.
For those who love a good mystery thriller then you will definitely want to pick this one up. Kudos for Mr. Chambers!
-JaT
Rating: 
Summary: An Exciting Mystery: It will keep you on edge until the end!
Review: On the surface, FBI special agent Angela appears to be a kind hearted, strong woman. Her friends call her "Angel", because of her kind spirit. And she is not afraid to fight the system. Angela just won a class action race and sex discrimination lawsuit against the FBI. However, Angela cannot forget that she was unable to remedy one failure in her life. After graduating from law school, she was unable to pass the bar. This is one battle that she will never win. Because of this failure, Angela tries twice as hard at the FBI. She gives 200% to her cases. Angela lands two cases that no one wants. In Washington D.C., two young African American teenage girls are brutally murdered. Another case involves the murders of drug dealers. The press has called the cases drug related and the Washington D.C. police want no part in the cases. The drug dealers and the girls' deaths are just part of the reality of living in the underworld drug culture. Angela meets good looking attorney P. Thomas "Trey" Williams, III. Trey is outraged that everyone has ignored the girls' deaths. Trey believes that the girls are "good girls" and the killer must be found. Angela is impressed by Trey's conviction and later they start to date. However, Trey is not perfect. Trey's parents are deceased and his identical twin brother Pluto is a heroin addict. To make matters worse, Pluto lives with Trey. Pluto has gone to drug rehab. To Trey's disappointment, Pluto still shoots up regularly. Trey sees himself as Pluto's older brother, because his birth preceded Pluto's birth by six minutes. He tries to shelter Pluto. However, this is a near impossible task. Pluto also suffers from mental illness and he obsessed with the occult. In essence, Pluto embodies the image of the devil. As Angela unravels the clues to the murders, she is taken down an unwieldy path that leads her to a place that she does not want to travel. The evidence seemingly points to Pluto. Yet, Trey steadfastly proclaims Pluto's innocence. On the emotional level, Angela wants to believe Trey. However, her intellect tells her otherwise. Is Pluto the killer? Or is it someone else? With a surprise ending, SYMPATHY WITH THE DEVIL will keep you on edge until the end. I would highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Deep
Review: SFTD held my attention from start to finish. The twist and turns were great. Sympathy For The Devil is the perfect title for this book. I truly began to feel sorry for the Williams Brothers. All the pain and turmoil and confusion they grew up with. They didn't know peace and joy, only carnage. I really developed a strong respect for Angela Bivens; Because even amidst the politics and turmoil surrounding this case. She held her position and put it on the line in the name of justice. I am eagely anticipating the next Angela Bivens thriller
Rating:
Summary: Complex, Compelling and Engrossing!
Review: Sympathy for the Devil (SFTD) is a thrilling and intriguing mystery debut novel from Christopher Chambers. Chambers introduces us to Angela Bivens, the sharp, intelligent FBI Special Agent of this exciting new thriller. Two inner city teenage girls are killed on the mean streets of the nation's capitol. The police and politicians want to wrap up the case quickly without even investigating because they believe that it's just another case of black-on-black crime and a routine causality of a drug war among poor folks that no one will really miss. Agent Bivens has just won a class action discrimination suit against the FBI, to appease Agent Bivens, and to satisfy the requirement for field work, her superiors throw her a bone...help the DC police solve this case which really holds little interest for most Agents on the fast-track. Agent Bivens has a mission -after witnessing a tragic incident as a young girl- she swore that she would always be there to help the underdog. She tackles this case and gives it her all as she suspects there's more to the killings than just routine drug war mishaps. As Agent Bivens digs deeper, and the case begins to unravel, the evidence leads to her personal life. It seems that boyfriend, Trey Williams, a successful DC attorney has an identical twin brother called Pluto who might be a suspect. Pluto has a prior criminal record, is a heroin addict and dabbles in myth and the occult. Could he be the mastermind behind the serial killings? SFTD is a page-turner that will have youon the edge of your seat as you speed read to solve this legal thriller. It's a compelling read that will hold your attention until the very last page...although I must admit that I couldn't read fast enough and was often tempted to skip to the end to find out the outcome. I look forward to more Special Agent Angela Bivens storylines and mystery lovers of Legal Thrillers will enjoy this impressive debut novel from Christopher Chambers. Reviewed by Yasmin
Rating:
Summary: Hollywood is truly sleeping on this novel
Review: The book started out very slow, but by the time I got to the middle of the book until the ending it was like I was watching a thriller movie or something. It was really good. I'm looking forward to reading more mystery stories about Angela Bivens.
Rating:
Summary: True Thriller
Review: There are many very good African American authors and/or mystery series on the market, but I think Chambers just shot to the head of the class . . . And what a class it is!! His Angela Bivens, FBI agent eclipes Eleanor Taylor Bland's police officer Marti MacAlister; Christopher Darden's Nikki Hill; Grace Edwards' Mali Anderson; Norman Kelley's Nina Halligan; Penny Mickelbury's Carol Ann Gibson; Gary Phillips'Martha Chainey; Valerie Wilson Wesley's Tamara Hayle and Paula Woods' Charlotte Justice. The elite list is even longer when you include Nikki Baker's Virginia Kelley; Charlotte Carter's Nanette Hayes; Nora DeLoach's Mama series; Penny Mickelbury's Gianna Magilione; Barbara Neely's Blanche; and Judith Smith-Levin's Starletta Duvall. All excellent mystery writers. However, Christopher Chambers has written not just a mystery, but a true thriller and an excellent, yet complex, read. Sympathy for the Devil is a white-knuckle, edge-of-your-seat, tightly written romp through the true Washington, DC, elite and underworld dens. Chambers flavors his knowledge of FBI procedure and hierarcy in the city with taste and appreciation for every other element (beyond the federal and city governments) that the Nation's Capitol has to offer. Chambers'insight is to Washington, DC, what Grace Edwards is to Harlem, New York. Beyond the rich texture, Chambers keeps us hanging by our collective finger nails through chapter by chapter trying to get a grip on the many twists and turns and then cold-cocks us with his finale. Don't pass this one up or you'll be way behind by the time the next installment is released in the bookstores!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Debut!
Review: There's not much to not like about this book. Chris Chambers is like John Grisham with more melanin and alot more soul. The book is fast paced, well written, and perhaps most notably, very well researched. Reading the book in an education in astrology, ancient civilizations, and the inner workings of the government. Thankfully, great dialogue and quick movement allow the book to be technically proficient without overloading us with details. Regardless of what others may say, the end is hardly predictable. It's quite well written as well, with one surprise after the next. All in all, and excellent debut. Can't wait for Ms. Bivens return. Robert L. Anderson - Author of "Finding Salliq"
Rating:
Summary: Hollywood is truly sleeping on this novel
Review: This book is absolutely wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed. Twists, turns,suspense...Kudos to Mr. Chambers. For those who said they guessed the ending....so what....this book is well worth the reading. The characters were developed well and Mr. Chambers has inside knowledge I see of the affluent African American in Washington. I can't wait to see what's in store for "Angel.
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