I was so excited to receive this eArc from NetGalley for review, as I absolutely loved The Whisper Man and The Shadows. Unfortunately I think this is my least favorite of those three. The premise was so intriguing, a serial killer who "sees the future", a missing sibling, lots of historical context. But, I don't think the synopsis really captured the focus of the book for me.

What I loved:
I really enjoyed the flashbacks to the past. My favorite aspects of horror and thriller novels are when we delve into the lives and past actions of main characters to build the story. There was a bit of that with The Angel Maker, as we are shown the lives of the brothers and how they formed their lives. I also liked reading from the detective's POV. I think he was very thoughtful and I liked to hear his inner monologue. I think this likely also helped explain a lot of what was going on to the reader. Lastly, I loved the speculative element of this. I think the questions that were left unanswered were handled really well.

What I wish was different:
I think the biggest hurdle for me was how slow this story moved. There was a lot of time spent sitting with the characters as they shared their thoughts and feelings about what was going on, but there wasn't enough of the "going on". I can tell that the author really wanted to get into the more cerebral, philosophical side of the plot. I think that's very interesting, but I don't know that it warranted as much time as it took. Secondly, there were just too many POVs for my taste. I remember 5 in total - Katie, Christopher, Edward, Alan, and Laurence (I think?), and after a while I was just getting confused at the sheer number of characters and their name(s). Lastly, and this is a personal preference, I don't like when addiction is used as a device to make a character untrustworthy to those around them. It felt at times like the author needed a way to make it reasonable for Katie to dismiss his disappearance and behavior and his addiction was the answer. However, I don't think this is something that will ring true for every reader.

All in all, I enjoyed my time reading this and I would recommend it to a horror or thriller lover. I will also continue to read from this author in the future.

Review to be posted on Instagram 2/7/23.

Alex North will never be graded on a curve. He ruined the curve when he wrote The Whisper Man and all of his subsequent books will be justly or unjustly compared to it.

I loved The Whisper Man, I loved it so much that I vowed to read every book Mr. North would write and while I've not been disappointed, nothing compares to your first, apparently.

The Angel Maker dives in to the philosophic more than being a straight-up serial-killer murder mystery. To be frank, it bored me at times and made me work harder than I care to as a purely escapist reader.

3 stars and I will continue to be a fan of Mr. North's.

Wow this book was so intense!

Super heavy subject matter but I really enjoyed it. I devoured this one within a day. I definitely was surprised by some of the twists and some I had figured out but what a wild ride!

North put the puzzle pieces together so well in his 3rd thriller. if you’ve read any of his previous books, you know to expect a smidge of the supernatural to be included and it was executed so well here. I’d love to see North dive straight into the horror genre in the future

Ooh this was dark and twisty and COMPLICATED. I was delighted to receive it as an e-arc but soon regretted the format because there were so many times that I wanted to turn back to a previous page to check on a name or a detail. There was a lot to keep track of, which isn’t necessarily bad, but the e-reader format made it impossible to easily find what I was looking for. So the complexity may be a downside for some people.

The story was very well thought out and I enjoyed watching all the puzzle pieces come together. The characters weren’t super engaging in and of themselves, but for how plot-driven the novel was, I was pleasantly surprised by how well fleshed out some of them were. However, by the end I was left wondering if I missed skim loose ends being tied up, or if they were really left unresolved! Argh. Don’t like that.

4/5 stars for this thriller! Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

So many tropes in the thriller/horror category are done again and again but Alex North always seems to deliver something original, which the reader appreciates.

There was a lot about this story I enjoyed. On one hand It was unique, clever and thought provoking. On the Other it was rather confusing in many aspects. With a full cast of characters and the movement between past and present, I found myself having to re group before each chapter. I don’t think you should have to work this hard to understand a book. I believe the author did this to keep us guessing as well as keep suspense high, but personally it left me a bit confused at times.

I found myself most interested in Katie and her story. I wanted to dive more in to her and her brothers relationship.

I felt this was a very unique premise and there are lots of good things here, but I also feel there was a little too much going on. Too many scenarios that left parts of the story un answered for me. Maybe the author intended this outcome among readers? Personally I wanted more closure.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 on Goodreads.

Thank you Netgalley and Celadon books for the opportunity to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for an advance reader copy of The Angel Maker in return for my honest review.

“If you could see the future, would you want to?” THE ANGEL MAKER is a formidable story of the consequences of this very idea.

Ok, so I feel like I just ran a mental marathon. This book was a brain workout.

First… that prologue! 🤯 Worth a star all on its own.

When tragedy strikes the Shaw family, Katie will never forgive herself for what happened to her younger brother. Now that she has her own daughter to protect, will she be able to save them all?

When a elderly man is found brutally murdered in his sprawling, dilapidated estate, investigators must stretch the limits of their imaginations to solve the crime.

When a serial killer passes his legacy down to his sons, will they follow in his footsteps? Or do they even have a choice?

Alex North weaves the complex stories of a large cast of characters into a blanket that has JUST a few holes in it. THE ANGEL MAKER has many layers, perspectives, and timelines. I should have taken notes just to get the characters straight.

While it touches on the horrendous crimes committed, this book deals more heavily with the topics of philosophy and God. I found myself getting bored at times, but kept reading to see if I figured out the twists.
So, did I? YEP! But there were so many layers - some believable, some a stretch - that it didn’t ruin the book for me.

Overall this book is unique and great for readers who like slow burning thrillers that streeeetch the imagination . Personally, I found that there were a few too many holes in the plot and he lost me with the idea of a future telling notebook.

I’ve heard such great things about this author’s other books (THE WHISPER MAN, THE SHADOWS) so I’ll definitely be checking those out soon.

💭 What book have you really wanted to LOVE lately that just fell a bit flat?

Wow! I have never read anything by the author and now I will definitely be reading previous books! I absolutely loved this book ! Why? Simply put the mystery!!! This book is like a puzzle the author gives you pieces and you slowly put together the pieces and finish the puzzle and there are so many pieces to this puzzle. Who is Christopher Shaw ? What does a serial killer have to do with the Shaw family? So much suspense and mystery !! I read this book in two days and couldn't put it down . I had to know everything! Great book and great writing. If your looking for a absolutely intriguing mystery read today!

Oh no. This was not what I expected. The cast was far too large and the connections took too long to be delivered. I love the originality and the word play was great just not the caliber of Whisper Man

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of The Angel Maker by Alex North. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC.

Alex North is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and his latest book, The Angel Maker, did not disappoint. The Angel Maker weaves an intricate story about two brothers, the sons of a notorious serial killer, and how their father's history has dictated their lives over the past forty years. I love how the story goes through multiple POVs, and the narrative goes round and round, throwing out small nuggets of details that all combine for a brilliant ending. Add in the fact that he has just enough creepiness to make it chilling without excessive gore, and you have a story that will keep your attention from start to finish. I give The Angel Maker 5/5 stars.

Alex north is one of my new favorite authors since his last few books so I was anxious to get my hands on the arc of The Angel Maker. This novel has a slightly different feel to it than his earlier ones, but the things that are consistent are atmosphere and pace. North has an excellent handle on pacing and will keep readers turning the pages furiously. North has excelled consistently at creating a true sense of atmosphere and this one is no different-there is an ominous feeling throughout the novel.
Without giving too much away of the plot (which is more intricate than one would think originally)-there is an estranged brother and sister, a religious sect, a serial killer, a detective-all of which circle around one another over multiple timelines. We also have a mysterious book that many people are after-but why and what does it hold? This book reminded me a lot of the tv show “Evil” with the plot lines about religion, good and evil, demons, etc.
While it does have some positives, I did find it almost too ambitious with all the plot lines-it’s hard at times to track how it all overlaps and interconnects and the reader has to pay attention and close read to keep up. I would rate this the lower of the north novels but still an enjoyable read nonetheless and one that should excite his fans!

Arc provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I was so excited to learn I had received the ACR of THE ANGEL MAKER! I loved the cover, which grabbed me immediately! And the story kept me quickly turning pages to see how it would all end! This was my first read from Alex North and it won’t be my last!

There was so much to like about this novel. I really love how Alex North writes — very descriptive and atmospheric, making for a creepier read. The book also had an incredibly intense and intricate plot with background stories of tragedy that may or may not be related (I don’t want to give anything away). And for the most part, I believe the characters were well developed and easy to connect with — especially Katie (maybe because I’m a big sister of a younger brother, too!). I didn’t always agree with her decisions—some were questionable and not well thought through— but love can be a powerful driving force even in the most dangerous of circumstances. I also really loved the philosophical undertones of the story, where determinism played an integral part in the development of the plot and actions of certain characters.

But, there were aspects of the book I didn’t like as much that detracted from the story. For example, the changing timelines were often confusing, so you had to stay on your toes while reading. Also, I felt that the ending came very quickly and abruptly. For me, certain questions were not answered fully and plot points seemed unresolved (I don’t want to go into specifics for fear I might give too much away!!). I would have liked an Epilogue to help bring more closure to the story and resolution between certain characters.

Overall, though, I loved the book because of Alex North’s exceptional writing skills and creative storyline. I can’t wait to read his other books, given all the positive reviews I’ve read from other readers! Bottom line—if you enjoy suspenseful, scary, and character-driven novels, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Alex North, and Celadon Books for gifting me the ARC of this book! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!!

Now that was a brain workout! I don't mean that in a bad way, I was a page-turning demon, but to articulate a coherent review feels nearly impossible so I won't bother with the details.

Let's just say there are a lot of movers and shakers and many threads intertwining.

We have a serial killer, we have an estranged brother and sister, we have nefarious characters, we have police detectives, and we have a very important book but what does it all mean? You'll have to read this to find out.

Alex North pens a most mysterious mystery that had me riveted from the start but, as I mentioned, it took some time for me to wrap my brain around everything. This was an ambitious novel that must have taken North ages to think up and write. The intricate weaving of the threads was done with the hands of a master in the genre and it is with pleasure that I tell you that North wrapped this up brilliantly which couldn't have been easy. My 2nd Alex North book and another success! 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for my complimentary copy.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Celadon books for an advanced copy of #TheAngelMaker by Alex North.
If you liked Alex North’s other books, I think you’ll enjoy this one as well. It was written in different POV’s and timelines so it could get a little confusing but I enjoyed trying to figure out how they would all connect.
A serial killer who has two sons with one doing everything he says and the other forging his own path was very interesting. The atmosphere was definitely creepy and sinister. Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5 stars

This book was just under a 5🌟 for me; there were some spots that were a little difficult to understand. While I feel this was likely a stylistic choice by the author to mimic the content of the story, we are talking about the ravings of a lunatic here, it did detract from my enjoyment of the novel slightly. I don't mind when an author makes me feel confused or lost as I'm reading, but I do not like to feel as though I don't understand what I just read.

Having said that, I am a HUGE fan of Alex North. "The Whisper Man" and "The Shadows" were in my top 5 thriller reads last year. His newest work, "The Angel Maker" did not disappoint.

Set in a quiet town in England, the lives of Katie Shaw and her family are forever changed when a stranger attacks her younger brother, Chris, on the way home from school. The story oscillates between snapshots of this violent past and the haunting present where Chris has suddenly gone missing. Katie can't shake the feeling that her brother is in trouble and must delve into her brother's private life in order to find him.

Running parallel to this story, we see detectives investigating a murder of a college professor in the present. As the investigation unfolds, detectives continue to be brought back to the viscous attack on Christopher Shaw and a long-dead serial killer who was said to be able to see the future.

This book had me closing my curtains long before dark and double-checking my door locks. I love that I didn't see the ending coming but once I finally read it, it was obvious the ending was inevitable. The story was artfully written and I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever Alex North publishes next!

I was excited to read another book from the same author who wrote The Whisper Man.. which was seriously creepy. I enjoyed this one too and read it in a day. The serial killer vibes were present again with this dark novel.

I did find myself having to pay close attention when reading this, because I felt you could easily be confused if not. I would consider this a detective/crime thriller, which I could have done without since I didn’t feel they really added to the story or uncovered anything vital to the story. The MC is a bit unpredictable and makes some questionable decisions given she is a mother, but I also understand the sibling bond that drove her.

I didn’t put this one together or unravel the big twist/s, which is a plus. I love a good surprise. As for the ending, this one wraps up pretty quickly and I needed more clarification on certain things. I have questions.. However, this was an interesting dark serial killer thriller that fans of North will enjoy.

I LOVED the Whisper Man and was SO excited to be selected to read an early release of The Angel Maker. This book has all the makings of a great mystery/crime/thriller book - but, hear me out, I feel like it read like a sequel. There is a huge cast of characters and a lot going on, as well as a rich history that is referenced and explained. For me, it got confusing at times and I also found myself wanting more information about past events.

Bottom line is that I think this book needs a prequel!!

The Angel Maker was a pretty decent read. I loved The Whisper Man by this author. There were several twists throughout the book that surprised me and I enjoyed them. Overall, I would recommend this to a friend.

The Angel Maker is the newest creepy psychological thriller from Alex North. Katie Shaw is a student whose decision to go home with her boyfriend after school instead of walking with her brother ends up having life-altering consequences for them all. Chris Shaw is viciously assaulted and the attack starts him on a downward spiral of self destruction.
A decade later, Katie is married with a child and Chris seems to be getting his life on track when he suddenly disappears. At the same time, Chris' attacker seems to be stalking Katie and her family. Katie is determined to keep her daughter safe and her search for their stalker reveals ties between Chris and serial killer that has been dead for 60 years.
The story goes back and forth between the past and present as well as alternating between characters. Discovering how all of these storylines tie together kept me turning the pages. Although suspenseful and creepy, this novel has less of the spooky otherworldly aspects of his first two novels and I personally prefer that.