Another absolute hit from Janice Hallett! I absolutely could not tear myself away from The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels. The story is fascinating and the way it's told is just so incredibly compelling (as with her debut, The Appeal). Fans of her previous novels will love this one.

This is the third book by this author. My daughter raved about the first book, The Appeal, so much that I was hooked and was lucky enough to review the next one, The Twyford Code and now this as well!!
Eighteen years ago, a cult called the Alperton Angels, were responsible for multiple killings, and then brain washing a vulnerable young mother into believing that her baby was the Anti- Christ. Luckily, she came to realise the truth and contacted the Police, and they both disappeared into the care system.
The child would now be an adult and capable of speaking to the press. Amanda Bailey, the narrator, is an author, but needs an interview that can be turned into a novel that could tempt editor , Pippa Deacon, to include it as one of the popular True Crime series of books.
Amanda finds out that she is not the only journalist on the search for this child, Oliver Menzies, is also involved in this endeavour, and they reluctantly agree to work together. They both find that the accepted version of events is erroneous, and the mystery is more darker and threatening than they first realised.
An unusual writing style, like the previous books, told through a series of emails, What’s App mails and transcribed conversations between Amanda, Pippa and Oliver. I particularly enjoyed the rather tart remarks from Elly as she transcribes, this device helps the reader to be kept in the loop. We have corrupt Police officers, A cold case murder club becomes involved, a veteran journalist is killed, all events seem to conspire against Amanda and Oliver, as they search for the truth, and the twist at the end is stunning.
It is a complicated and convoluted story, great care and attention needs to be applied to the many strands of this great adventure, as it is so easy to be thrown and be lost. I loved this novel, and its unique style, and hope my review does it justice.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Viper Press/ Serpents tail, for my digital copy, freely given in return for my honest and unbiased opinion. A five star read. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon when the pages are open.

Another great read from Hallett, I was hooked from the get go. The multimedia format makes it a quicker read but also gives you the opportunity to try to piece together context.

I really enjoyed this and look forward to more from Hallett

A gripping and twisty epistolary that caught my attention so thoroughly that I read it in one day. I'd probably recommend reading it over a longer period of time because I think I missed things, but it was great!

Janice Hallett’s previous book ‘The Twyford Code’ got 5 stars from me last year so I was excited to receive the ARC for her next book – ‘The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels’.

If you haven’t read one of her books before, Hallett is very much a fan of unusual conventions of narrative style – her last book centred around badly transcribed audio files and this one focuses on What’s App messages, emails and transcriptions of conversations from Amanda Bailey - a journalist trying to crack the case of the angels.

I must admit I did struggle with this style in The Twyford Code but the end twist more than made up for it whereas with this book I don’t think the payoff was enough to justify how little I engaged with the plot. I found the whole book to be a little too drawn out - it needed a bit of ruthless editing to take out some of the strands. Also, there were so many characters, and you weren’t sure who was going to take a larger part later on, that I found it hard to keep track of who was who. As you just found out about people from their online correspondence, they didn’t feel well-rounded, and I also didn’t empathise enough with main character Amanda either which was a shame.

The case was interesting and there were some twists but it wasn’t as mind-blowing or as puzzle-like as the previous books so by the end of it, I didn’t really care what happened or the truth we were trying to get to. Pieces of information also seemed introduced into the narrative at very convenient points which made the whole thing feel a little too contrived and forced.

Overall, I struggled with The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels - its unique narrative style felt too drawn out and didn’t let me properly engage with the plot or empathise with the characters. If there had been a brilliant twist I could have forgiven this, but this plot is somewhat bland in comparison to other books from Hallett I have read. Thank you to NetGalley & Serpents Tail, Viper and Profile Books for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Janice Hallett is always original and this book is no exception.It tells the story of a gruesome murder from 20 years ago when the mutilated corpses of 4 men belonging to a cult were found in a derelict warehouse,accompanied by two teenagers and a baby. The leader of the cult was found guilty and imprisoned.
Now the murder is being reinvestigated by 2 journalists each trying to write a book about the case from different angles.It’s all told through emails,WhatsApp messages and a film script,and is very convoluted by also gripping.I think I would have preferred a print copy as it was hard to go back and check what had gone before in electronic format,and there were so many details it was sometimes hard to keep track.
However, it’s very cleverly plotted and fans of the author are sure to enjoy the book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I read and loved Janice's first two books and wondered how this one would stand up to them. It's another cracking crime case with an extensive cast of characters and a fabulously inventive way of running us through the story. Janice Hallett has done it again and reinvented the crime novel for a third time!!

Amanda Bailey is a writer who is commissioned to look into the 18 year old case of a cult which resulted in deaths and kidnapping. We follow the events through emails, texts and a script for a play. With twists, turns, red herrings and practical jokes we are led through the story which results in more deaths, suspicion and corruption to the highest level. This is so clever, inventive and compelling.

This was one of my most anticipated reads & I was not disappointed! This is a complex & engrossing mystery, and like her other books, you need to pay attention. I liked the way the story was told - transcripts of calls, messages & emails tell the story alongside excerpts from books & a movie script - and I found myself slowly but surely drawn into the investigation of a 20 year old cult execution. As Amanda and Oliver delve deeper into what happened in Alperton, we see how unravelling the truth affects them. I really enjoyed this and just had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened. I’m already looking forward to what Janice Hallett puts out next!

Thank you NetGalley and Viper for the chance to read it early!

Gosh, where to start with this book! Like other books by the same author, it's told through a series of emails, messages, letters and transcripts.

It took me a little while to get into it as there are quite a lot of characters mentioned. So I had a bit of trouble keeping up at first. But I soon flew through it, completely intrigued and immersed in figuring out the many mysteries. Loved it.

I read the authors debut novel ‘The Appeal’ and was completely absorbed from start to finish so I had high hopes for this one. If I am honest while I did enjoy this book it didn’t have the same pull as her previous ones. I can see by other reviews that thankfully for the author I am in the minority. What I do like about this author is that she is open to trying new approaches to writing thrillers rather than the tried and trusted routine of many other writers.

The sad story of the Alperton Angels is a well known story, a cult that brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her new-born baby was the anti-Christ. Their intentions were to kill the child but were only stopped when the mother came to her senses and called the police. Rather than stand trial the Angels committed suicide and the mother and child disappeared into the care system. Now twenty years on true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. If Amanda can hunt down the mother and child she will now be able to interview both of them as the child has now turned eighteen. Amanda’s career desperately needs a boost and an interview would be a real scoop for her career. Potentially standing in her way is rival author Oliver Menzies who with his better connections is well on the way to locating the child. When Amanda and Oliver pull together they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The real story is far from told and the truth is much different to what they both ever imagined.

Another cleverly written book by Janice Hallett and I did enjoy it and I hovered between a 3 and 4 star rating.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Serpents Tail for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Although I have a paperback of Janice Hallett’s debut novel The Appeal on my book shelves, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is the first novel of the author I actually read. Netgalley didn’t make it easy to read this novel because the formatting of the novel consists of emails between Amanda Bailey and other parties but there were no breaks in the text in my ecopy that clearly stated where each interaction started and ended so that was certainly a little challenging in the beginning but it was readable and I did get used to it towards the end. Hopefully the finished ecopy won’t have this issue, otherwise you can always go for the paperback.

I wasn’t conscious at first of how clever and deceptive this novel was going to turn into. The only thing that became clear was that nothing was adding up, people saw markings and other people didn’t, there was even a discrepancy in the number of bodies discovered at the scene where the cult members committed suicide, and nobody was willing to talk or knew anything significant. I felt quite confused how this could happen and it certainly made me wonder what was going on here. There were a lot of conversations with lots of different people, police, social workers, even an online group investigating cold cases. I wasn’t in the zone for some time because Amanda wasn’t really getting anywhere and the cast was a bit overwhelming but once she started to get some leads and it narrowed down towards some pretty exciting theories I simply couldn’t stop reading.

At about 70% of the novel there was more going on than I could wrap my head around. The story is intricately plotted, even though I had to suspend some belief, especially when it came to Amanda’s rival Oliver Menzies. As Amanda steams ahead with the investigation and her search of the 18-year old who was saved from a ritual, Oliver completely turns into a believer. His falling under the spell of a cult leader was a tad too much but the author had her reasons for making him so gullible. I only hope she didn’t expect her readers to be this easy to convince of angels and the antichrist. It did make me feel sorry for Oliver, especially since Amanda just lets him be, but again, she had her reasons for leaving him with his delusion and her urge to be the one to find ‘the baby’ is only part of it. Still, it didn’t make her the most sympathetic person.

There’s another role in the story for Ellie who transcribes the interviews and while I’ve done the same thing and have never even thought of adding my own thoughts between brackets, it brings a brilliant touch to the story. Ellie acts as her conscience, her friend, and is probably the one with the kindest heart. On a sidenote I also really want to mention the first draft chapters that Amanda writes of what is to be her book and are interspersed throughout the story. She writes each one with another POV and focus and I loved all of them, but of course the last one, with the big reveal explained in detail, most of all.

Nothing is at it seems in this novel, that’s the least I can say and I very much enjoyed how it kept me guessing about the truth for so long. It’s a story about manipulation and even if you normally avoid reading books about cults (like me) you don’t need to worry, it’s still a novel that will compel and will surprise you very much in the end!

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?

In 2003 teenagers Holly and Jonah escaped from a cult with a baby who they believed to be the antichrist. Three of the members committed suicide and the leader Gabriel was sentenced to life in prison for his part. The baby is about to turn eighteen and journalist and true crime author Amanda Bailey is on a quest to find them. She’s writing a new book about the so-called Alperton Angels and the baby’s identity is key to her success. As she uncovers more and more about the case she soon realises that nothing is as it seems.

In Janice Hallett’s now signature style, we are privy to Amanda’s research in this case through emails, whatsapp messages and transcripts of interviews conducted. This has the effect of drawing us into the mystery as fellow sleuths, revelling in the feeling that we are seeing and listening to private information.

Amanda is our proxy and what an interesting one she is, with glimpses that she may not have the purest of intentions. Her hunt for the baby’s identity clashes with that of an old acquaintance Oliver Menzies who is also writing a book on the Alperton Angels and with whom she shares a complicated past.

This is third book by Janice Hallett and it’s every bit as good as her previous. I am constantly blown away by her ability to craft such well thought out mysteries. It’s an exploration on perception and how easy it is to influence other peoples, but most of all it’s just a fantastic, well written mystery.

I have read the author’s other books and particularly enjoyed her first book, The Appeal. I still highly recommend it, so if you haven’t read it, you should!
I was delighted to receive an advance copy of her latest book, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, published in January 2023.

As with Janice Hallett’s other books, the format isn’t a standard narrative. In this book, we are reading the research notes of a true crime journalist, Amanda Bailey. These take the form of audio transcripts, text messages, emails etc.

Amanda is asked to investigate the case of the Alperton Angels from eighteen years earlier, where bodies were found seemingly involved in a suspected ritual suicide pact linked to a cult. A baby escaped the killings and is turning eighteen, Amanda is determined to find them.
Oliver is also investigating the case for a rival publication, and him and Amanda are playing against each other.
People they ask to help them investigate the case end up dying in “accidents” and Amanda and Oliver begin to wonder if they could be next.

For me, this book took quite a while to get into. There are so many characters and so much going on. At times, it does feel a bit all over the place. The story jumps from texts, to a transcript, to a manuscript and it’s a lot of information. I think I needed my own notes to keep track of what was happening!

It’s quite a long book too, but it’s definitely readable and held my interest.

I felt a bit of a disconnect from Amanda’s character, I’m not sure why. Possibly due to the format. I liked Ellie’s character a lot and I think her personality comes through in the transcript notes and messages.

I’m still trying to process the conclusion of the book and I’m not sure how I feel about it. It feels too far fetched yet maybe it could happen.

Overall, I enjoyed the book once I got into it but didn’t feel much of a connection with the characters, apart from Ellie. There’s so much going on and so many characters and I wonder if it’s slightly too much?
Nonetheless, I would definitely read more of the author’s books and I like that she has taken a different approach with her novels.

Thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

After enjoying the 2 previous books I was looking forward to the third but sadly I gave up reading halfway through. I had skim read some of the book before this point as it was becoming tiring and monotonous. If I had read to the end I’m sure I would have been rewarded by the unravelling of a complicated plot and great revelations but I could not invest the time to trawl through the pages of transcripts.
Thank you to the publishers for the ARC.

Janice Hallett has done it again. She's struck gold with this formula for fun, compelling mysteries; if you like her previous novels, you're sure to enjoy this one.

As ever, it's a multi-layered story: like a matryoshka doll, everytime you think you're on to something, the story cracks open again and takes you in an entirely new direction. While I didn't find the final reveal quite as satisfying as The Twyford Code (perhaps only because by this point, I've wised up to some of Hallett's clues), The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels still has so many twists and turns to keep you guessing.

I also love the playful way that Hallett draws her characters - from snatches of transcribed conversations, second-hand accounts and carefully edited emails. It can be tricky to keep track of all the different leads, but you have faith that Hallett will pull them all together in the end.

I'm sure another book is in the works already, and I for one can't wait.

Like her other work, writing this in mixed media (with messages, emails, transcripts etc) allows you to immerse yourself in the "clues" as you follow along with the story and try to piece together what is actually happening. In amongst this, she has also written a film script and a YA book, both of which convincingly have very different voices.

I did figure out a certain identity, and a couple of plot twists, but it didn't detract from what is a thoroughly enjoyable and page-turning read.

It is so complex with corruption, cults and cover-ups. As such there are a lot of different characters, so it can seem a bit chaotic and hard to keep track at times (but less so as you get to know them!) and by halfway I couldn't put it down.

This is a great book, very well written with lots of twists, and a typical fab read from Janice Hallett who is quickly becoming an auto-buy author!

This is the First book by this author that I have read and it certainly wont be the last. The style of writing may put some off as it is not the usual chaptered tale. This is instead pages of emails, text conversations, transcribed conversations and other forms of electronic communications all listed with headers telling you who each is between.

The story itself is interesting with it being obvious that something has been covered up but it's difficult to tell at times if it's memory lapses, deliberate misdirection or just confusion between fact and fiction. It was however brilliantly brought together in a finale that made this a fantastic read!

This complex crime novel is written in the form of investigative material (texts, emails, interviews) compiled by a journalist researching the cold case of The Alperton Angels, a small cult who plan to kill a baby who they believe is the Antichrist.

It’s an incredibly clever, sometimes humourous story that is intricate and full of twists and turns and you need to be on your A game to keep up with the plot and characters. I had no idea at any point, who was guilty of what and how the book would finish.

I really enjoyed it, another great book by Janice Hallett that I would recommend.

With thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free review copy in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

Imagine you find a box of documents that make up the research material for a true crime book. After reading them, you see that the book will shed new light on the eighteen-year-old case of the Alperton Angels – but what will you do next? Destroy the documents? Hand them over to the police? This is the premise of Janice Hallett’s new novel, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. It’s fascinating, but Hallett has a style all of her own which can take a while to get used to. I knew what to expect as I loved her previous novel, The Twyford Code – one of my favourite books of 2022 – and I think I enjoyed this one even more.

The case of the Alperton Angels involved a cult led by a man who called himself the Angel Gabriel, two vulnerable teenagers and a baby they believed to be the Antichrist. When true crime writer Amanda Bailey is commissioned to write a book for a new series re-assessing historic crimes, she decides to write about the Alperton Angels from the perspective of the baby, who is now about to turn eighteen. The only problem is, she has no idea where the baby is – or even who they are. Even worse, she discovers that one of her rivals, Oliver Menzies, is working on the same book from the same angle. Who will find the baby first and uncover the truth behind the Alperton Angels?

The whole novel is presented as Amanda’s collection of research material: emails, letters, whatsapp messages, and even excerpts from books and film scripts. Where she has met and interviewed people involved in the case, these conversations are transcribed by her assistant Ellie, who adds her own amusing observations and asides. This modern, multimedia style of story-telling is not something that would usually sound appealing to me, but in Janice Hallett’s hands I love it. And actually, when I think about it, it’s really just an updated form of the classic epistolary novels I’ve always enjoyed, so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t like it!

Despite the fragmentary style, I could still get a feel for the personalities of the main characters – Amanda persistent and tenacious, Oliver gullible and easily led, and Ellie witty and down to earth – but there’s also a sense that there’s a lot we’re not being told. How much can you trust what someone says in an email or in an interview where they know they’re being recorded? Similarly, the facts behind the case of the Alperton Angels are unravelled very slowly, one little piece of information at a time, and with many of the suspects and witnesses following their own agenda, we don’t even know if what we are reading is true or will be proved false later in the book. Things do eventually start to come together and make sense – and if you continue to the end, you’ll be rewarded with some great twists!

I found The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels completely gripping and difficult to put down, particularly as there are no traditional chapter breaks so no logical place to stop. Now I’m looking forward to reading Janice Hallett’s first novel, The Appeal.

So this book was beyond me. I still have no idea what was going on in it! I loved The Appeal by this author but her subsequent titles have confused and befuddled me. Too intelligent a read for me unfortunately.