The Angel Maker is my first Alex North read even though I have The Whisper Man and The Shadows on my TBR forever. I was a bit unsure about this book seeing some of the unfavorable reviews on GR but so glad I read it!

I started the book on audio and was immediately drawn in with the multiple characters and various timelines that don’t make much sense in the beginning. I don’t want to give away too much about the story but I love how this story is like a puzzle pieces that eventually come together.

This is not a fast read, and I found it a bit hard to follow on audio with the different POVs and timelines, so I switched to reading with my eyeballs halfway through. There is one character whose story I wish was more flesh out, and there wasn’t much explanation to how this character was connected to the whole thing. But other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed The Angel Maker. If you’d like to read a slow-burn murder mystery with Final Destination vibe, give this a read!

Thank you Celadon books and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I went in knowing very little about this book other than a brief synopsis and Im happy about that decision! This book is one I had to go back and reread little parts especially in the beginning but I started to understand who all the characters were by about a quarter of the way in. I found Katie very likable and the detectives provided a more comedic tone which was needed to break the tension! This book has that very creepy feeling but also is a supernatural thriller. I enjoyed the twists and found myself reading most of this in one sitting! This is my second Alex North book and I definitely recommend it for those wanting a fast paced read!
Thank you so much to Celadon books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 stars

I really enjoyed The Whisper Man & The Shadows by Alex North, so I was stoked to pick up The Angel Maker. Alas, this one was a miss for me.

My chief complaint is that the story was quite convoluted. We follow a lot of characters, numerous cases, and intertwining timelines. Things get mucked up pretty quick. Like, I'm not sure I could describe what this was about in a concise manner. I think the story could have benefitted from further development of characters in place of some of the plot elements.

At the end of the book, there were things I felt went unaddressed, and I didn't get the feeling of everything being wrapped up. Maybe some of this just went over my head, but I was left confused at the end. There was also a supernatural element kind of randomly inserted into this that was never really explored or developed much.

In conclusion, I'm still confused lol

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this book because I read so many great reviews of North's other books. That being said, I really struggled with this one. It shouldn't be so difficult to read a book. There was so much going on, past and present, and different POVs. Usually I enjoy books like that but this one we too much for me.

This was my second Alex North book and I wasn't disappointed. Though I have to say the ending wasn't my favorite, it shocked me a little. It had me on the edge of my seat and I did have to put it down at points to let my mind take a break. The anxiety this book caused was crazy but in a good way. At some points, I wanted to shake Katie by telling her that she is being stupid and the same with her brother Chris. I could also feel the love she had for her brother and that the need to keep him safe was there. I really can't wait to read more from Alex North soon. The Shadows is on my TBR for April.

Thank you Netgalley for gifting this book for an honest review.

Alex North creates a story about a serial killer who claims to prophesize the future and blends in philosophy and crime fiction just to up the ante. He asks the reader to question what makes a “good” child vs. a “bad” child but in a uniquely different way than your classic good vs. evil. He also dives into the lasting effects of childhood trauma. I really enjoyed the philosophical tone in The Angel Maker. If you're hoping for North’s classic creepy vibes, rest assured, you won't be disappointed. I white-knuckled many chapters while reading in bed. You might want to leave on a light!

I was really excited to receive an ARC of The Angel Maker. Alex North is an excellent writer and this is a highly anticipated book, all about pre-determination, regrets, change, free will, and connection.

That being said, I had some trouble getting through this book. It is just so complex, with many different characters, storylines, and timelines. It was hard for me to grasp at times. It’s still a solid thriller with a really unique premise, just not one of my favorites.

Thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Alex North for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this novel because I had previously really enjoyed The Shadows by Alex North and wanted to see what his new book was all about.

Overall, I did enjoy the concept of the novel BUT it was a lot of build up and I feel like it didn't really deliver. Normally when I'm reading a thriller or mystery, I have the build up of anticipation and wanting to know what happens next. That didn't necessarily happen for me with this one.

For starters, there were so many characters it was somewhat difficult to keep up with all of them, who was who, their individual stories, and how they related to each other. Because yes, they're all intertwined in a convoluted way. There are so very creepy and chilling aspects of it and while I was reading this late at night (I thought it would be a great book to read before bed, I know I know) I was freaked out. I wish those aspects of the story had been explored more instead of making this very complicated puzzle.

The philosophical debates in the book are interesting and make me feel like im sitting in a college philosophy class again. Are we in charge of our own lives or is everything already set in stone? Can we actively change the course of our lives?

"The present is a vantage point from which every moment in the past is inevitable and every moment in the future is the invisible."

I think I would have preferred the story more if there was more focus. For example, focusing in on Jack Lock and his sons, how that life was like for both of them and how much did each of them know. Again, I really enjoyed the philosophy aspect of it and wish it would've dived deeper into what Lock had written in his journal and how much actual came to pass.

"'Could you change it though' Katie wondered. 'What do you mean?' 'Well - if you just saw the future, you wouldn't know how you got there. So anything you did to avoid it might actually be what lead you to it all along.'"


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of the novel.

One of my favorite ways to read books is to tag-team between ebooks and audiobooks. It’s the best of both worlds and means when I’m busy I don’t have to leave my story at a critical point. I was over the moon when I received my very first dual advanced reader for The Angel Maker from @CeladonBooks and @MacmillanAudio . I didn’t hesitate to download both platforms and get going. I was right…getting both the ebook and audio is as good as it sounds…awesome!!! Thank you so much!

Years ago Katie Shaw’s younger brother, Chris, was brutally attacked. This set him into a spiral of petty crime, homelessness, and drug abuse. Katie has grieved this relationship, as well as always feeling second best in her mother’s eyes. Now married with a young daughter, Katie becomes concerned when she believes the man who attacked Chris is stalking her family. Meanwhile her mother has seen Chris recently, he’s doing well and working. But he’s gone missing.

Told through current day, flashbacks, and multiple POV, Alex North has written a dark tale that asks us to question free will versus a preordained fate. What if you could know the future? Do all roads lead there no matter what, so your actions consciously (and subconsciously) ensure it, self confirming your own thoughts? Or can you toss a pebble towards the water, turn your back, and change everything? It’s this mind-muck of philosophical twisting that is interwoven throughout his character’s deeply disturbed motivations. The audiobook is expertly narrated by Roasalie Craig. I credit her skillful voice acting for a good portion of my goosebumps!!

I seriously overestimated my capacity for leveling up on the disturb-o-meter. I’ve been loving suspense-thrillers but think I aimed too high. I recommend for those that like their thrillers on the scarier side, and descriptive police procedural. I think it’s a fantastic book that would make a great movie!

Katie Shaw made a mistake in her teenage years that continues to haunt her, an error in judgment that resulted in an attack on her brother Christopher. Having trouble separating real threats from the imagined, will a phone call from her mother one day threaten everything that Katie holds dear?

Detective Laurence is lead on a case involving a deceased professor. When he sees a recognizable face on video at the professor's house, will the past come crashing into the present?

The Whisper Man and The Shadows were both well done thrillers, with a good amount of spookiness and suspense. The Angel Maker, unfortunately, just did not hit any of the high notes like their predecessor. There was a lot to unpack in this novel and it was just too twisty to make heads or tails of it. I never felt any connection to the characters and the plot from the beginning was sluggish at best. By the middle of the novel, I found myself struggling to finish. For this reason alone, I would not recommend The Angel Maker to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

Alex North has a way of creating scenarios and characters that give you the eeriest, tingling feeling down your spine. And the Angel Maker is no different. The plot of this book surrounds a book that tells the future, a madmen- or some madmen, and some supernatural elements that make it a good thriller, if that's your thing.

That usually is my thing- and Alex North books are usually a no-brainer for me. But, I did have a little more trouble with this one. There were too many characters to follow- added to the fact that sometimes they were called by something else. And a couple were so similar that I had a hard time telling them apart. The story felt a little more disjointed to me and it was hard to follow along with the multiple timelines. I think if I would have listened to this one on audio, it would have been easier for me to follow, so I may circle back and do just that.

I will still always pick up an Alex North book, because the stories he crafts are creepy and are perfect for a rainy night.

Tightly woven, tense, and intense. There's also something melancholy I can't quite put my finger on. It doesn't matter, I suppose, but it's bothering me. I'm left with a mild sense of unease.

Wow. This was one dark book and refreshingly so. Alex North's books make me go W.T.F. and I am always ready for it. I'm not a big thriller reader, but North's books are the perfect amount of dark for me.

The Angel Maker is a serial killer of children (thankfully no real details there), but he has been dead for years. How is he connected to all the other characters in the story? How are they are connected to each other? Is their future really foretold? The story is weaved flawlessly through these characters, bring them all together in the most thrilling way. While you know the connections of some and wait for the characters themselves to figure it out, you're also left wondering about the others. I devoured this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Complicated, twisty, and philosophical, this thriller is not my favorite by this author (The Whisper Man still holds that place), but it kept me reading all the way to the fiery end.

A serial killer that claimed to be able to hear from God and be doing his work, his two sons, and a younger generation are all tied together by the mysterious diary he wrote. The book jumps frequently between times and POVs, but as all the pieces are revealed, the story comes together. Short chapters are a plus in a thriller, making it easy to read "just one more". Or was it determined?

A little tough to get into - perhaps I'm just not in the right mood for this - and I've never read anything by North so this was an interesting intro to his work.

I loved both The Shadows and The Whisper Man, so when I saw Alex North had a new book coming out this year I was beyond excited! The Angel Maker has a similar otherworldly feel as The Shadows did, so if you enjoyed that one then I definitely think you will enjoy this one. At times the plot seemed a bit intricate with trying to remember how all the characters fit in, but regardless I enjoyed seeing the puzzle come together. In true Alex North fashion this book is packed to the brim with creepy scenes that will keep you up at night. Overall I enjoyed this one and if you are looking for a unique serial killer thriller that has a paranormal feel, then I highly recommend checking this one out!

Dark and thought provoking. I liked the philosophical elements, and the characters were well-rounded.

“If you could see the future, would you want to?”

If the cover didn’t already catch your attention, the prologue definitely will! Alex North has a way of writing thrillers that will chill you to your core.

Told by multiple POVs (big cast of characters), with multiple timelines, the Angel Maker is not for the faint of heart, or for those looking for an easy read. You have to hang in there for this demented ride, as it takes awhile for all the storylines to merge.

Detective Laurence Page brought some much needed humor to a rather dark thriller. He was probably my favorite character, next to Katie. It also helped that within Laurence’s chapters, the reader received bullet points of found information needed to solve this convoluted mystery.

While I loved The Whisper Man, The Angel Maker was… different. (Too different?) I enjoyed solving the mystery and I appreciated the nod to murderabilia from his previous work. But… I’m not sure I loved the slow burn journey it took to get to the end. One thing I do know is this book won’t be for everyone, however, it could make for some pretty interesting book club discussions.

Thank you to Celadon and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Harm to children

All opinions are my own.

Great book! A blend of family secrets and bonds, dark pasts, and a bit of a murder mystery. This book starts out with a flashback related to a tragic event that happened to Chris, who may have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time, and how it affected his sister. Then we pivot to the story of two sons of a serial killer, one good and the other destined to follow in father's footsteps. The serial killer also has a bit of a religious mission in his acts, which also adds to the story. As the two stories unfold, we learn how they are related in ways you would not have imagined, and the author gives you just enough detail to reveal details and making you want more.

I liked this one okay. I had trouble getting into it and keeping going, but I knew from this author’s previous books that the reveal would be worth it. And it was! It just took awhile to get there. There were a lot (too many) points of view in this one, and I was getting confused about what was happening and when. I am glad it came together in the end.