This is my second Alex North and I like his style of writing. I find this book a slow burn but at the same time, kept luring me to flip the pages over to find out what was going on. There are multiple stories in the beginning, and to me, particularly this book, it was North’s good approach for me to pay attention to details — because I know it is just going to get better from that point on.

It definitely gave me the creeps reading it, and I felt I just want to keep digging for the story to finally mesh together. When I was reading it, it seems like I was solving a familiar mathematical equation where I kinda know what was happening but I’m not quite there yet. Mind you, not all books get that interesting when you encounter this feeling, lol; however, this book definitely kept me on my toes and interested until the end. The analogy would be, I hated Math but with the right teacher and approach, I get invested to learn more about it. *dork alert*

The Angel Maker is a good book club discussion as its central theme can be thought-provoking. I am looking forward to attending @thrillersbythebookclubsocal meet-up tomorrow and hear what others think about this book!

Thank you Netgalley, author Alex North, and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a fabulous book that grabs you and never let's go. It's faced paced, exciting and somewhat horrifying. Less of a thriller than a mysterywith a hint of the paranormal.

The characters are engaging. I was left wanting to know more about them and what their future holds.

****SPOILER ALERT *** However, I was left with aunanswered questions . For example, who exactly was the man who attacked Chris and then fixated on his family? What was his motive? How were Lockes' sons placed in their adoptive homes?

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest review.

This book took me a fair bit to get into if I’m being honest. I just couldn’t seem to get myself to care enough about the characters to be fully invested. I found that there was a case of “too many cooks” when it came to the POV chapters. There were too many different perspectives and it led to me confusing who was who and what happened to who. It was a little much at times.

However, once I was into the story and fully understood what the heck was going on, I was able to enjoy the story. I did find that it wasn’t a super gripping book, it really didn’t give off too much of the stereotypical “thriller” genre niches that I wish it had. This was really more of a mystery that was playing out in a long past influenced way.

The weird religious plotline that had to do with “making the predestined happened” actually gave me chills because there are literal cults that believe things like this and will kill people - real human people - because they believe that they should never have been born or they are “ destined” for bad things. This was probably the most thrilling aspect of this book.

Overall, this is not my favorite Alex North book, but I did love gaining the understanding of why the title was what it was and why the cover had matches and fire on it. I love the symbolism coming through in the stories! Otherwise, this is more of an average mystery-esque book.

⚠️TW: murder, child abuse, child death

Thank you @celadonbooks and @netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Katie Shaw hasn’t seen her brother Chris in two years. She used to be his protector until an unspeakable event happened which altered his life. Now married and with a young daughter, Katie is still grappling with the guilt of that day. When her mother calls to say that Chris is missing, Katie instinctively knows that something terrible is happening. Detective Laurence Page was there the day of Chris’ accident and is now investing the murder of Alan Hobbs, a retired psychology professor. Alan’s death seems to have nothing to do with the events of Chris’ accident, but as Page continues to investigate a book stolen from Hobbs might just be the answer to everything.

I’m not going to go into detail about the story, because there is such a risk for spoilers but just know that The Angel Maker is a complex story. I’m generally good at keeping track of multiple stories and characters, but I had a hard time following the story initially. I kept having to stop and refocus on where we were in the story, as it jumps around from character to character, and time period to time period. I ended up losing a bit of interest and actually took a 3 week break, before deciding to pick it up again and even then, I felt the story was a slow burn. Around 60% in, is when the storylines start to converge together, and the pace of the story finally takes off.

Character wise, North does a fantastic job of creating a diverse set of characters. A few characters in particular he’s created so well that you can feel the ‘evil’ radiating off the pages of their story.

Alex North has certainly delivered an intricately woven story. I’d say this one is creepier than his previous 2 novels. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 just because I think North is incredibly talented to be able to weave such different storylines into one. But the slow beginning, the added philosophical theories, and one unresolved subplot keep this from being a 5-star read for me. I will say that the audiobook was excellent, and that really helped me to get back into the story, so highly recommend that.


The Angel Maker comes out February 28, 2023. Huge thank you to Celadon Books for my advanced physical copy and Macmillan Audio for my audio copy. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

I was so happy to be granted an ARC of the new Alex North! I started it immediately.

This one focuses on serial killers and determinism - the idea that everything is preordained.

The book begins with Alan Hobbes thinking about the lives that are connected to his as he waits to die:
1/ Katie Shaw, who feels overprotective of her daughter and guilty because of something that happened to her little brother when he was a kid and she left him alone.
2/ Christopher Shaw, who is Katie's younger brother and has a history of drug use amongst other things resulting from what happened to him as child.
3/ Detective Page, who will be assigned Alan's death and discover that it is linked with 2 cases he previously worked.

My only real complaint about this book was that it took me awhile to figure out the cast of characters and whether they were supposed to be good or evil. We get some past instances in Alan's life mixed in to the story following his death as well. I wasn't sure how it would end and I can definitely say I've never read this story before. Another big winner from Alex North!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Katie Shaw is haunted by a decision she made as a teen that changed the lives of her and her brother, Chris, forever. Chris is attacked and Katie is haunted by guilt and paranoia. Years later, Katie is still grappling with her long ago choice and then, Chris goes missing.

Alan Hobbes, a well-respected philosophy professor, is brutally murdered. Chris Shaw seems to be a link but how and why?

Alex North weaves a suspenseful and complex story, told through the eyes of multiple narrators and timelines. I loved the elements of theology and philosophy that enriched the narrative.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the digital arc!

I have been waiting rather impatiently for another Alex North novel and I was beyond thrilled to receive this as an audiobook through NetGalley!

I gotta say though, I didn’t love it as much as the previous novels. I try not to compare but it’s hard when the others are easily in my Top 20 overall reads and this one just isn’t. I have a theory about that and I plan to test it when the book releases.

The theory: I didn’t listen to the others - I read the physical books. Perhaps the narrator just isn’t what I need from these books. Perhaps I need my own internal narration.

Anyway - there are many tales of Angel maker serial killers out there. I gotta say I did enjoy the route this book took with that story. We follow Katie as she tries to figure out how much current events connect to her past. She struggles with what is reality and what is in her mind and it’s interesting to watch the story unfold. Especially since we seem to have two stories competing for prominence in her life.

I’m gonna go a neutral ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for now and see how I feel later.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

*Thank you Celadon Books and Netgalley for my gifted eARC for an honest review*

If you could see into the future would you want to?

It's hard to even describe what went on in this book because there was so much to it. Yes, it was action packed but had many characters and many different timelines it was just kind of hard to understand. It had so many different puzzle pieces that made absolutely no sense until I got to the end of the book and things were explained, so really I had no idea what I was reading. In a small way this book reminded me of The season of Dexter with the Doomsday killer. This book had some religion and God references due to why some of the actions of some of the characters were committed. All in all this is my least favorite book by North and I personally would not recommend, but I'm excited to see what other people thought.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3

I was lucky enough to be able to do the LFL drop off for this book, and it was so cool to watch my community freak out about it just as much as I did.

Alex North can seriously write. This book was atmospheric, scary and believable. It made me think!

Highly recommend if you like his previous works.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy of The Angel Maker. I loved Alex North’s Whisper Man and was anxious to read this one. The Angel Maker is a unique story about determinism (serial killer style). I loved all of the interconnections between the characters and the story had me creeped out (in a good way). I find Alex’s take on thrillers to be so fresh. I think this book is best read in as few sittings as possible because the characters and their interconnections can be hard to keep track of if you put them away for too long. The last 100 pages of this book were so captivating that I didn’t want to put it down. The cover is also gorgeous!

Thank you NetGalley! I enjoyed Alex's book, The Whisper Man. I didn't care much for The Shadows but I wanted to give him one more chance. Unfortunately, this did not work for me. It was difficult to get through.

Just like The Whispers, Angel Maker dives right into the story. It's a little spooky, and a little weird, but in the best way that I've come to expect from Alex North. The way he tied everything together in the end was amazing. I do wish the ending had gone a little deeper, but I totally get why it didn't. Two thumbs up for this book.

I’m a fan of Alex North and I really enjoyed his two previous books so when I received the arc for The Angel Maker, I was ecstatic.

The cover and the title was giving me a creepy vibe and I was ready for it. I wanted to be scared. But sadly, this wasn’t that kind of book. Yes, it had a serial killer in it but it was more of a mystery than anything else.

This book can be a little confusing as it has different POVs with multiple timelines but when it unfolds itself, it’s a fantastic reveal!

I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy thrillers.

I always enjoy Alex North books. There was never a dull moment in the Angel Maker. This fast paced novel follows the like of Katie, whose brother was viciously attacked when she chose to leave him to walk home alone. The story also follows the death of an elderly Alan Hobbs and the investigation into his murder. This was so fun and really kept me on my toes. Like North’s other writings he keeps the reader invested and constantly guessing.

Holy moly...what a ride! The analogy of a jigsaw puzzle is used in the book and that precisely is what this book is. Katie and Chris, Alan and Edward how are their lives intertwined. Creepy, scary and so well written.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read and review.

The Angel Maker is a complex story that manages to exhibit a high level of creepiness without resorting to gore. Those that have read Alex North’s other novels will enjoy the Angel Maker’s pace and cast of characters.
I wish the author had filled us in on a few parts of the plot a bit more before ending the book. For example, Michael Hyde’s character is tormented and plays a big role in overall events, but there is not a lot of depth into the mental torment that led him to commit the acts he did. He is stalking Kate Shaw’s family and has planned something, but it is never revealed why he and his father blame Kate and her family for what he did to Chris. What is the cause of his obsession and thoughts over the years? It is implied that Edward Leland and the teachings of Locke have a lot to do with it, but I want to know more of the backstory that led to Hyde attacking Chris.
Alan Hobbes doesn’t seem like the type that would kill Nathaniel Leland, so I get the impression that he had him kidnapped but then placed somewhere else, but that is never really cleared up.
The ending seemed abrupt. I wanted to know Chris' reaction to reading Locke's book and understanding his history. Even just a few pages would have been better than the abrupt ending.
Overall I liked the Angel Maker, but I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars because of the lack of depth in the areas I described. If you are looking for a fast creepy read without sex and gore, then this is a solid bet. I could see Alex North continuing the story of some of the characters in this book in a future volume.
Finally, I think it is worth mentioning that this is not a book for people that are easily triggered by mentions of harm to children.

This book was very suspenseful and engrossing. The story is much more complex than it appears at first which made it even more exciting. Very well executed with a conclusion that readers won't want to miss.

Dark, suspenseful, and thrilling. This novel isn't your typical serial killer trope, It includes elements of the occult/supernatural in a way that's convincing and unnerving. An ambitious approach that includes multiple POV and timelines- a slow, suspenseful build that culminates in satisfying twist.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. This one didnt grab me as quickly as his others and it didnt have the same creep factor. However, he made up for that in the twists in the end. You cant trust anyone in this novel and everyone appears as a villain.

Alex North is my favorite thriller author, so when I saw that he had a new release coming, I knew I had to read it as quickly as humanly possible. After the Shadows and the Whisper Man, The Angel Maker absolutely did not disappoint. This seems to be his most ambitious project yet, with multiple POVs and overlapping timelines, it has the potential to be confusing. Due to the nature of the book, I was barely able to put it down and flew through it in just over a day. I had chills from the prologue and North managed to maintain the aura of suspense through every page. It didn't outright scare me the way the Shadows did, but I found myself checking the corners and being glad I wasn't reading in sight of any windows.
It was clear early on that the pieces of this story would connect some how, but it wasn't until the very end that the whole picture came together. I often find myself making wild prediction as a read a book, especially thrillers, but my brain only had space for the information it was reading and I rode the twists and turns with the characters predicting very little. One of my favorite things about Alex North books is the POV of detectives as they do a large portion of the detective work in the story. So often thrillers leave the suspense up to amateurs who get themselves into unnecessary scrapes, ultimately making the situation worse. While there were elements of that in this book, it was refreshing to follow detectives on the case as well as both protagonists and antagonists who were directly involved.
Alex North writes the kind of books that make me want to check on him. Are we sure he's okay? Does he have a good therapist? We're truly convinced he's *not* a serial killer himself? I'm glad he's using his genius to entertain us rather than any of the alternatives.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for my advanced copy to review.