I was BEYOND THRILLED when I was approved to read an early copy of the upcoming Alex North novel. I moved it straight to the top of the overflowing stack! 📚

Alan Hobbes is a distinguished philosophy professor who has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff. Of course, he knew he was going to be murdered because everything that happens in life is preordained. After all, he has spent his life lecturing on determinism.

As he awaits death, he thinks about the three people whose journeys are linked to his-journeys that will continue the day after he is gone….

One is Katie Shaw, presently cooking dinner for her family and worrying about her marriage and her daughter. Red car, Mommy! Red Car. Katie freezes.

She doesn’t think she is overprotective, but her husband disagrees. Still, she cannot forget the last time she made a split second decision to spend time with her high school boyfriend, instead of walking home from school with her little brother, Christopher, and he was savagely attacked while walking home alone by Michael Hyde, a stranger in a RED car.

Another is Detective Laurence Page who is listening to classical music, and doesn’t know that he will be working the Hobbes case the following day.

He has never heard the name HOBBES before, but he will soon discover that his NEW case leads back to two OLD cases-the gruesome attack on Christoper Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer, Jack Lock, dubbed “The Angel Maker” who legend has it, thought he could see the future.

Thirdly is Christopher Shaw-Katie’s brother. The last time Katie saw him he was still struggling with addiction, and he stole money from her purse. He will enter the estate of Alan Hobbes just before the murder, and now he needs Katie’s help. She won’t let him down again.

I love to lose myself in the pages of a book, but it was DIFFICULT to do so when this story began because I found myself a bit lost instead.

With an INTRICATE plot, and a large cast of (evil) characters, it took awhile for me to figure out who was who, and how they fit together in the larger scheme of things, which slowed the pace down a bit. Once I was able to do so, the pace picked up as I was DEFINITELY curious to see how it would all play out.

Everyone is connected in unexpected ways.

So many tropes in the thriller/horror category are done again and again and again. But Alex North always seems to deliver something original, which this reader appreciates. While “The Whisper Man” remains my clear favorite of the three, this is still worth reading!!

3.75 rounded up!

And, a shoutout to the gorgeous cover art! ❤️

Expected Publication Date: February 28, 2023

Thank You to Celadon Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review.

#TheAngelMaker #NetGalley Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I encourage you to check this one out!

Waiting for my arc copy of latest Alex North book was just like waiting for Godot! This is actually one of the most anticipated books of the next year that I was so close to sell my husband’s kidneys in exchange an early copy! Luckily I had my own happy ending and jumped on my study, performing Wednesday Addams gothic dance figures to celebrate as soon as I saw the arc copy at my NG shelves!

After reading his third book, I still think Whisper Man is my favorite work of the author, but I actually enjoyed this book more than Whispers. The paranormal vibes, puzzling storytelling style that connects different timelines by questioning the free will and faith, the realist approach of the author to the theology are absolutely unique, intelligent, piquing your interest, pushing you to flip the pages a little faster. Twists are mostly well developed.

At some parts I found the detectives a little useless to delve into the mystery and connect the pieces. They reminded me of Somerset and Mills ( Se7en)’s detectives who are just played by a man who pulls their strings!

Here’s the short summary of the plot:

Katie Shaw carries the burden of her past: one quick decision resulted with her little brother’s nearly death experience. She tries to clear her conscious by trying to protect the people around her she truly cares for and but the guilt still eats her inside.

She has estranged relationship with her brother Chris after not hearing from him fir nearly two years when she called the authorities for reporting his theft! She lost her father and her mother slowly fades away with her own health problems.

Thankfully she is still married with her love of her life Sam and raising her lovely five years old daughter Siena. But lately she suffers from communication problems with her husband and when one day her mother calls her to inform that her brother is in real trouble, she cannot let him go, gearing up for compensating the mistakes she’s made in the past.

This time her brother Christopher Shaw’s fate crossed with very dangerous people connected with a serial killer who can see the future and write everything down on a special book as detective Laurence Page and his colleague investigate the murder of philanthropist, rich philosopher and Christopher may be the person of interest of this murder investigation.

What will Katie do? Can she save her brother by making things tight about her past, connecting puzzle pieces to find about the big mystery he’s gotten himself into and finds the identity of the man who drives a red car, stalking around their neighborhood? Are all of those mysteries connected?

Overall: some explanations are a little far fetched and there are still a few unanswered questions and holes in the plot but it was still mind bending, provocative, exciting, smart, riveting reading with great character development and balanced pace. I enjoyed a lot and I also shivered and hid under my blanket while I was reading some chapters!

Absolutely recommended to the fans and thriller lovers who also enjoy paranormal/ fantasy genres.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Solid Alex North book. A little different than the Whisper Man and The Shadow Man but the serial killer theme continues, albeit in a little more of a familial thriller this time.

This time there were a host of characters - all connected under the surface and all trying to figure out who was moving their pieces on the chessboard.

The ending was a bit abrupt but overall a very solid read!

4.5 stars

Holy cow this was an amazing book, I would say my favorite of North’s to date.
It is a slow burn for sure, but I wouldn’t want this particular story to be anything other than that. There was a lot going on and in the beginning it was a bit hard for me to keep track of the characters. But the story was laid out at a wonderful pace giving just enough without ruining anything. I can easily see this being a great movie (with the right cast and director).

North nails it again with this nail-biter! This thriller features a stunning and well-built cast, and maybe even a bit of magic!

Not as good as the author’s first two books, which were excellent and gripping from the start. This one drug on and was difficult to get through. Interesting concept but not what I was hoping for or expecting from this author

Alex North is one of the few authors who can send chills up and down my spine - "The Angel Maker" is no exception! A must-read for all Scandanavian horror fans.

This was a very split book for me. The main plot setup was so interesting, I love serial killer talk. However, there were a lot of characters to keep straight. Certain characters fell flat while others stole the show. This highlights several philosophical principles and hints at the plot twists along the way. Not my favorite book. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This was a very intelligently written serial killer novel. North has hit it out of the park again!! This book kept me guessing and fully invested until the chilling conclusion.

I adored the author's "The Whisper Man" very, very much, and although it was just a few years ago, it seems like a lifetime,, KWIM? Anyway, very happy to get my hand's on an early DRC of his latest, "The Angel Maker" - it's a detective thriller, but with strong horror & supernatural elements along with some "deep thoughts" - and I quite enjoyed that it derivated from the ho-hum formulaic thrillers that are so ubiquitous these days. I also enjoy how he really captures the English settings so very well in his books. Loved the big sister MC Katie & the detective is also very well written. Recommend highly. My sincere thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the complimentary DRC -0 all ratings & options are my own.

Alex North has establish a solid place on the horror bookshelf and The Angel Maker is a worthy addition. While not my favorite of North’s it still provides plenty of chills, intrigue, and mystery to keep you up at night flipping pages.
Part family drama, part mystery/thriller, and part supernatural horror, the author is able to strike the right balance to appease a fan of any of the genres.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wonderful! Alex North is getting better with every book! Just a perfect thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

Another great read from Alex North!
The Angel Maker has it all - serial killer, philosophy, revenge, family dynamics all wrapped up in a tightly woven police drama/suspense novel.
I really can't say much without giving away major plot twists, but be sure to pay attention to everything.
It was a little confusing at first with the characters and how they relate to one another, but it all tied in at the end.
Highly recommend, especially if you liked The Whisper Man and The Shadows!