When I was invited to join this blog tour, I was also invited to be as creative as I wanted in terms of my review. I wasn't so sure I had that in me and, having now read The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, I absolutely know I do not have the creativity. What you have to realise, if you have not picked up a Janice Hallett book before, is that the author has a very unique style, one that some might consider quirky perhaps, and one which I would suggest is perhaps best read in physical book format or even listened to as an audiobook. It's that kind of style, one which is easy enough to follow physically, but which would also translate well to the spoken word. Because this is a book about a book - two books really - or more specifically, the research undertaken to help the two main characters, Amanda Bailey and Oliver Menzies, prepare to write their very different accounts of one of the most perplexing and shocking true crime cases of recent years - that of the Alperton Angels.

Told through a series of emails, transcribed interviews and telephone calls which took place between predominantly Amanda, her old nemesis, Oliver and various colleagues, friends and witnesses from the case as they strive to find out what really happened on that fateful night that saw four men caught up in a kind of murder suicide pact. There is one other thread they want to pull, Amanda especially, and that is to find the baby that was caught up at the heart of the case and who disappeared on the night the murders were uncovered.

This is a really creative and effective way of presenting this story back to readers and, due to the nature of how the narrative is laid out, is actually a very quick read. Despite its length, 430+ pages for the hardback, I actually read it really quickly, the email, WhatsApp messages and transcribed conversations lending themselves to a very pacy tour through this investigation. There are no long sections of exposition, more conversations back and forth which serve to build the mystery, lay the foundations for what is to come and to turn this apparently clear case entirely on its head. Some of the scenes are perfect red herrings, some highly pertinent but almost lost in the mix of all of the other communications that take place. There are some blink and you miss them clues, but as you move through the story, the more obvious and apparent they become and those 'ahhhhhhhh' moments start to come thick and fast.

Don't think that this is simply a book about two people trying to find a new angle on an old tale. It is actually a very well crafted examination on the power of suggestion on weaker minds. Of how charismatic and manipulative individuals can influence those who are susceptible and willing to believe, with overwhelmingly tragic consequences. Taking a look at how one man, Gabriel Angelis, had proven so influential he created god-like status in the eyes of the young people who followed him and bought into his 'cult'. It is also a birds eye view of a decent into madness of a very fractured mind, someone who buys into the whole concept of good v evil that was at the very heart of the case and the core of the cult.

I really liked the way in which the author has framed the novel. She invites us to read what follows, challenges us to think about what we would do if faced with the absolute truths the book reveals. If maybe, understanding and reporting the facts is actually more dangerous than accepting what has already been told. We're invited to make a moral judgment and to cast our own votes on whether we would have made the same choices when presented with this full body of evidence. And despite the way in which the story is told, she has given us a real insight into the characters at the heart of the story. Through their actions, their voices, she has created a far clearer picture of them in my mind than any amount of extended narrative could achieve. It's one of her real skills and proves that you really don't need to know the colour of the curtains to still get a keen sense of time and place.

Packed with mystery, and enough uncertainty to have you doubting nearly everything you are reading, this is a book that entertained and enthralled and which I tore through in no time at all. Definitely recommended.

Firstly, when this book gets released, run, don’t walk, to your nearest stockist and get a copy. Then cancel all commitments and strap yourself in for an absolutely gripping read! I basically read this over the space of a little over 24 hours; I started it on New Year’s Day and finished it on 2nd because I simply didn’t want to put it down.

I know Hallett’s writing style won’t be for everyone but I absolutely love the format she uses, with this one being told mainly via WhatsApp messages and interview transcripts with some articles and things thrown in when needed. I love that I can use my imagination to fill in the blanks around what Hallett shows us.

I really enjoyed the cult aspect to this as this is an area that I have always found quite interesting. I liked that the character of Amanda Bailey mentioned books used in her research that are actual books, one of which was already on my to buy list!

There are a lot of twists and turns in this one, some quite far fetched but I think that actually shows how some of these conspiracy theories can take on a bit of a life of their own and become more and more outrageous.

I loved the ending, no spoilers here obviously, but it was absolute perfection.

I always find it difficult to write reviews of Hallett’s books as I really think you benefit from reading them spoiler free and I’d hate to let something slip that then ruins it for someone.

If you’re already a fan, you’ll definitely enjoy this one, and if you’ve not read Hallett’s work before but want to try something new for 2023 I definitely recommend you give this a try.

I’m starting the year on a high with this!

Unfortunately, I found this book really difficult to read. I loved the Appeal, the author's first book and have also read the second but I now find the writing style quite tedious and I lost interest fairly quickly.
Perhaps it was just the wrong book at the wrong time.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC

Another fantastically engaging offering from the author who has really nailed the construction of an intriguing modern mystery. So engaging you have to read it in one sitting. The central conceit is very disturbing yet compelling and the epistolary style keeps you guessing the whole way through.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Serpent's Tail for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date 19 Jan 2023 #TheMysteriousCaseoftheAlpertonAngels #NetGalley
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Rival authors Amanda Bailey and Oliver Menzies investigate the case of the Alperton Angels: a two-decade old case where two teenagers and their baby disappeared when the members of the cult they were part of committed mass suicide.
Both Amanda and Oliver are hoping to track the baby as they turn 18 and can finally be interviewed.
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I really enjoyed this. Those of you who have read Hallett's previous books will be familiar with her style and this one is no different: you delve into archives containing all of Amanda's research about the Alperton Angels case, made up of WhatsApp messages, emails, transcripts of interviews and conversations and follow her progress as she tries to track the (now adult) baby involved in the case before her rival Oliver does.

I can't say much more about the plot without spoiling it but I absolutely love Hallett's modern take on an epistolary novel. It is so engaging and helps you fly through the story.
I also quite enjoyed the interjections from Ellie, who transcribes Amanda's conversations and interviews.

The story was quite easy to follow despite the number of people mentioned in Amanda's archives, however I was not able to solve the case before the denouement. And there was an extra plot twist at the end which I did not see coming and my jaw dropped.

I think if you enjoyed The Appeal and The Twyford Code, you will also really like this one. It's twisty, compelling and an absolute page-turner.
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Written in the authors trademark style the story is told through the media of email, WhatsApp, newspaper cuttings, manuscripts and transcripts of phone calls and face to face meetings. 18 years ago cult members committed suicide rather than face legal retribution but a teenage couple and their baby survived along with cult leader Gabriel. When I started it I thought it was going to be really difficult to follow as there are so many people involved but no it was a gripping read.

Briefly, true crime author Amanda Bailey has decided her next story will be about the Alperton Angels. But she isn’t the only one. Oliver Menzies, a man with whom she has personal history, is also looking at this story and much to her dismay they are forced to work together. The baby will now be an adult so Amanda wants to track it down. But the more they investigate the stranger things become. Mysterious deaths, conflicting memories, missing documents. Nothing makes sense. Is there something supernatural involved?

This book was so full of twists and turns, truth and lies and hidden secrets I didn’t have a clue what the outcome was going to be. I didn’t even have an inkling of the truth behind the fiction. This is a really good read. In fact it’s brilliant the way the author has made such a complex read so accessible. Read it.

Amanda Bailey is a true crime writer embarking on her latest book about the 'Alperton Angels' - a cult under the influence of charismatic and dangerous leader, who all committed mass ritual suicide, apart from two teens who escaped to tell the tale, along with the baby they believed to be the 'anti-Christ', who was about to be sacrificed. The teens and the baby were never named in the press and it is Amanda's first priority to uncover their identities to get their side of the story for her book - particularly as the baby would now be 18 and legally an adult.

But as Amanda begins her investigation, she discovers that an old rival from her first journalism internship is also on the case and is trampling all over her leads with his usual privileged but not particularly subtle manner. She must keep her enemy close in order to control the story - but the story is so much bigger and more complicated than she could ever have imagined.

I have read both of Janice Hallett's previous novels, so I was expecting her trademark style - a collection of 'primary sources' that tell a story but are in fact misleading the reader. 'The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels' is a collage of emails, text messages, transcribed conversations and extracts, in a similar style to her previous books, but this story feels even more subtle and nuanced. Another baffling but satisfying read from a fiendishly clever author.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is Janice Hallett’s third psychological thriller. It’s quite similar in style to her first novel, the Sunday Times bestseller, The Appeal, in that the story is told through a mixture of WhatsApp messages, emails, audio transcripts and novel excerpts.
True crime writer Amanda Bailey is looking for inspiration for her latest book and her agent puts her onto the case of the Alperton Angels, a mystery surrounding a cult, whose leader, Gabriel, is currently languishing in jail for a murder. Two of the cult members were led to believe that their baby was the antichrist and as this baby, who survived the mass suicide or murder which resulted in the deaths of several of the cult’s members, would now be eighteen years old, Amanda must find him or her. She is both aided and hindered by Oliver, another author, whom she has known for years and with whom she has a history which did not end well.
Original, suspenseful, ingenious!

Thankyou @viperbooks via NetGalley for my ARC of this

Oh boy was I excited for this one, I loved The Appeal, and was so sad when The Twyford Code fell short for me, so when I tell you I had high hopes for this, I had high hopes. Those hopes were in no way disappointed AT ALL, this was one of my top 5 favourite books of 2022, I’m so excited to buy a physical copy and I know it is going to be one of the best releases of 2023.


Don’t get me wrong it is quite a dark story with the theme of the book being based around a cult but this book was full of mysteries within mysteries it was never ending.
Yes it is a chunky book, but the mixed media methods of WhatsApp, emails and transcribed conversation means that its so easy to read, I think Janice Hallett is the reason I love mixed media so much when it comes to reading!
You’d also think with it being such a large book you would get lost or confused or bored throughout, no chance, Hallett makes sure that you are kept on your toes and kept guessing the whole way through.
She makes it so fun to play detective throughout, you really feel like you’re a part of the story, and oh boy the twists throughout I was in no way expecting and left me completely jaw on the floor unhinged shocked.

I’m honestly so excited for this book to be out for everyone to read

THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS.
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The devil is in the detail...
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✨Absolute banger to start off 2023
✨Mysteries within mysteries
✨Intricate plot that unfolds at pace
✨Twist after twist
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If you've read anything else by Janice Hallett then you know you're in for a very clever set up. I don't know how she keeps track of all the details and my brain was desperately trying to figure this mystery out from the first pages. Absolutely loved it and cannot recommend it more highly if you like to play sleuth when reading, publishes this month 🙌
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Thanks to @viper.books via netgalley for my advance copy.
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#alpertonangels #themysteriouscaseofthealpertonangels #viperbooks #mystery #preorder #booksof2023 #5starread #booklover #bookstagram #booklover

Janice Hallett novels are so difficult to review, without giving too much away! ! As with the other two, the style of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is different to anything else in this genre. The story is told through emails, messages and conversations transcribed by Ellie, Amanda Cooper’s assistant.
Amanda is a well regarded author of novels about old murders. She is asked to look into The Alperton Angels, a mysterious case involving a mass suicide apparently linked to a cult leader called Gabriel. Two teenagers and a baby were rescued from the scene and were whisked away by social services. The baby is now 18, can Amanda find it and shed new light on the case? Her interest is piqued but she is hampered by an old colleague who is also working on his own account.
The mystery deepens as she tries to uncover the truth, as always with a Janice Hallett novel, nothing is quite what it seems…
AA rattles along, dragging you ever deeper into the case, never quite sure who is really telling the truth. The ending is not what I expected and leaves you with a rather bitter taste when no one really gets what they deserve.

Wow what a book. I have always enjoyed Janice Hallett’s books and this one really didn’t disappoint. I like how the story is written in a mixed media format as it really helps pace the story, I was flying through it and didn’t want to put it down. Had no idea what was going to come next and the twists and turns just kept on going from start to finish. I definitely recommend this author to everyone who hasn’t read her works before, maybe you’ll be able to uncover the mystery before I did.

Amanda Bailey is a true crime author, researching the 18 year old mysterious case of the 'Alperton Angels' that resulted in multiple deaths. We, as readers, are presented with everything she found along the way; messages, emails, interview transcripts, scripts of fictional adaptations of the mystery and more. At the beginning it may seem disjointed, but slowly and brilliantly two stories are pieced together. First, the story of Amanda herself as she's forced to work alongside an old rival, and second, the mystery of this strange cult. This is the first book I've read by Janice Hallett so I am new to the unique format she uses, but I loved it. The underlying plot is a gripping mystery on its own, but the format just added to the intrigue. I enjoyed piecing together the puzzle as I read, but it never felt like hard work. The author masterfully guides you towards conclusions, some of which I guessed, others took me completely by surprise, but all were very satisfying.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a thriller with ingenious use of mixed media that is a true page turner. Recommended for all mystery fans.

Unsettling, creepy, terrifying… and brilliant. Couldn’t put this down, what a read! I loved The Appeal, haven’t read The Twyford Code but this was another level.

It’s fitting that at around the same time last year I was reading The Twyford Code, since ending the year’s reading with the latest offering from Janice Hallett could quite easily become a part of my Christmas routine. Another great example of a story where nothing is quite as it seems, where the characters know a lot more than they realise and where we are privy to the secrets before we quite understand their significance.
With the mention of a key to a safety deposit box holding the only copies of research by author Amanda Bailey at the start, I was immediately intrigued. The research was focused on the case of the Alperton Angels and Amanda’s quest to find the right angle to hinge her upcoming book on.
While the premise of the book drew me in, it took a while for me to fully engage with the intricacies of the story. The relationship between Amanda and her former associate Oliver was a puzzling one, and the vast array of characters and material being discussed made it quite tricky to keep track of the key events. Certain anomalies in the story stuck out, but were not drawn attention to…at least, that is how it seemed.
Everything centres on the case of the Alperton Angels, a group of people who believed they were angels on earth. Three of the group were found in a deserted basement, their throats cut and evidence of satanic rituals. The purported leader of the group is in prison for the murder of a young restaurant worker, and many believe him to be responsible for the other deaths. A young girl and boy were rescued at the scene, and the baby at the centre of the case was adopted afterwards and their current identity is unknown. Almost eighteen years after the event interest is high, and Amanda is keen to learn the identity of the baby and hopes to discover exactly what happened.
Unfortunately, anyone who has investigated this case has a nasty habit of meeting an untimely death. Supernatural forces at play, or a more mundane attempt by those involved to cover up the truth of what happened? As Amanda and Oliver race to find their truth, each gets drawn into the story in ways they could not have foreseen. Shadowy figures and things that are not recalled clearly by witnesses make this a frustrating case to examine…but once we know the truth (or what seems to be the truth) it’s hard not to be impressed by what Hallett offers.
Again, thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication, and thanks to Viper books for spotting another great story.

I adored Janice Hallett’s first book, liked her second but wow… this was brill! Pacy writing with so many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. She’s now an auto buy author for me.

This is a welcome return to Hallett's unique and intense style of writing. The book is told through WhatsApp messages, emails and transcripts and it makes for exhilarating reading. I adore how Hallett writes her books, they are so thrilling and really draw you in. For me this book was lacking a few more suspects but it is still a fantastic read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I’ve read Janice Hallett’s previous 2 books and love the format of how they are written, a combination of messages, emails and interview transcripts. All pieced together to tell another thrilling, dark and twisty, irresistible page-turning mystery. It’s obvious how much research has gone into this book, which has well thought out characters, who you are drawn to almost immediately. It is addictive, as more and more clues are slowly revealed.

Loved, loved, loved The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels! This is witty, clever crime fiction written in Janice Hallett’s signature style of blending communication forms, rather than straight prose. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels consists of text message and email exchanges, newspaper and book extracts and transcribed (mainly secretly recorded) conversations.

Amanda Bailey is a crime writer, commissioned to write a new book about a rather intriguing 18 year old murder case. That of four men who were part of a cult that considered themselves angels on earth, found dismembered in a warehouse in Alperton, north London. Their plan that night was to sacrifice the baby (the anti-Christ) of one of the members, Holly, but something went terribly wrong and they paid with their lives instead.

Gabriel – the cult leader – was imprisoned but always denies any wrong doing. The baby survived, their identity kept secret. But as they are now 18 years old, Amanda is determined to get exclusive interviews with both them and Gabriel and find out what really happened all those years ago in an Alperton warehouse.

Is it through Amanda’s research and correspondence with key witnesses and people connected to the case that this story is brilliantly told.

Unfortunately for Amanda, the Alperton Angels case is a hot topic and fellow crime writer Oliver Menzies is also on the hunt for an exclusive. The two know each other from when they were training to be journalists, but they are not exactly friends. This adds another intriguing dimension to the tale.

The world of a crime writer trying to hunt down the truth is wonderfully captured. Made even better by the fact Amanda isn’t always telling the truth. She’s a lead character you root for but she definitely has her own agenda too, one that is revealed in snippets throughout the story for maximum impact.

The dry sarcasm of Amanda’s former assistant and transcriber Ellie Cooper is also brilliant and really adds some great touches.

In terms of developing this story, I loved how Amanda writes a few different versions of the potential opening chapter of her book as she gets more evidence – it works to show just how multi-layered it is. The way the facts are weaved in and revealed are next level – just when you think the story is going one way, it swerves and gives you a jaw-dropping moment.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels blends crime and greed with the power of belief and people’s vulnerability to create this amazing story. It is one of those books that I was thinking about when I wasn’t reading it, just wondering what would happen next. A truly unique take on crime fiction that I know I’m going to read again to appreciate its intricacies.

Amanda Bailey:
The murder cases I’ve covered so far are all the same. Dead blonde, media frenzy, police fumblings, lucky psychopath.’
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Thank you, thank you, thank you to @viperbooks for sending me an early copy of this one! @janicehallett is truly at the top of her game with her latest! Her first 2 blew my mind with their creativity and this one has surpassed that!!
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Open the safe deposit box. Inside you will find research material for a true crime book. You must read the documents, then make a decision. Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police? Everyone knows the sad story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her newborn baby was the anti-Christ. Believing they had a divine mission to kill the infant, they were only stopped when the girl came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than stand trial, while mother and baby disappeared into the care system. Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed; if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby's trail. As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The truth is something much darker and stranger than they'd ever imagined. And the story of the Alperton Angels is far from over.. After all, the devil is in the detail...
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For me, @janicehallett is just in a league of her own. The way she writes is unlike any other book I have read, the level of planning that must go into constructing these novels is honestly next level! I don’t know how her brain does it, but I am now eagerly hoping for and awaiting book 4