The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels

True crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Alperton Angels, a cult who brainwashed a couple of teenagers into thinking their baby was the antichrist who had to be destroyed, but luckily the girl came to her senses just in time. The Alperton baby has now turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed; but she has to find them first.

I really enjoyed The Appeal by this author so was looking forward to this one but was slightly disappointed.

Although a very clever and original book I found it a bit over complicated and the format of emails and transcripts hard to follow, but think much of that was down to reading it digitally so may have felt differently if I’d read a physical copy.

Looking at all the 5 star reviews for this book I’m obviously in the minority so would urge you to give it a try, but ideally treat yourself to an actual copy.

Oh I loved this book so much! It's one woman's investigation into a mysterious cult and it's full of newspaper clippings and transcripts of witness testimony etc as you're along with her trying to piece together what happened and trying to find a baby who survived and is now about to turn 18. Alongside this there is someone else planning a book on the same subject so there is a race against each other to get the story and attempts to work together at times too - with neither one really trusting the other. I loved this book - it was great trying to piece it all together and working out which bits of information were most trustworthy and logical. It's impossible to work it all out, which I loved as it's not often a book keeps me guessing all the way to the end. This book is brilliant and I highly recommend it!

I really love that Janice Hallett finds a way to involve her readers in her books. I love her unique style of her books and looking forward to whatever she does next. Little bit good Omens meets crime - I loved the unravelling of the side stories alongside the main 'case' and enjoyed Amanda's not taking no for an answer.

Incredible twisty mystery that keeps you hooked until the very end! Hallett’s writing is pure genius, I have no idea how she does it.

Well well well @janice.hallett has done it again! 😱 massive thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy ❤️

As a true crime nerd I just knew this book would be perfect for me. Two true crime writers trying to get to the bottom of four murders, and a missing baby, with the undertone of an angelic cult? What more could you ask for!

The format of newspaper articles, emails, transcripts of conversations and text messages add a real depth to the story. At times you feel you are almost intruding on private conversations, but can’t help but read on.

Janice is excellent at revealing tiny bits of the story as you read, so you feel like you are solving certain aspects, but finding more questions at the same time. This book in particular raises the questions of morality; who is in the right, and who is in the wrong?

The main characters of Oscar and Amanda were likeable, although I did find they could be quite rude at times. They certainly fit the stereotype of a journalist, willing to do anything to get the story, no matter how morally wrong it may be. I found myself instructing with Amanda’s assistant Ellie, as in my own work I have been the assistant helping to analyse documents and type up notes. I did however find it slightly annoying how she would keep adding her own opinions to the transcripts…. Just a personal preference but I wouldn’t dare do that in work! 😂😂

As with The Twyford Code the ending truly is the masterpiece. There is a moment where the origin of a certain document is revealed, which is mind blowing 🤯 and the tragic events at the very end came completely out of no where, it was truly shocking 😱

I liked the message that the book conveyed of how your actions can have long lasting effects on people. It is expertly woven in how one small action can have huge consequences. What I liked the most is that it didn’t feel like it was being forced down your throat that you shouldn’t hold grudges and should think before you act. Instead it was left to the reader to decide how far is too far.

I would urge everyone to go and read this book, it’s truly fantastic ❤️

We’re back with another mystery that’s told entirely through interview transcripts, chat messages, emails, scrips and book extracts! Something about this format just tickles my brain and really had me engaged with the narrative as well as adding some extra fun, I think, because you have to engage in a little bit of detective work yourself to read between the lines!

I never thought I’d say that I have an auto-buy author for crime/thriller/mystery books but here we are. Seriously, I’m so picky about this genre of novel, but ever since The Appeal was our BOTM and I read it…I pick up every single one of Hallett’s books and I’m yet to be disappointed.

While each book has a unique narrative and unique ways to convey the mystery, each one has quite a different vibe to it so they’re all unique in their own right!

With The Alperton Angels, nothing seems to be that out of the ordinary other than the cult they’re investigating, but there’s an increasing sense of something just being…off. Especially considering the uncanny coincidences mentioned and it wasn’t long before I was theorising and I have to say: Hallett got me again.

I binge read this in like 3 days, although unlike the previous book I didn’t spend a hot minute genuinely thinking something supernatural was going on! As a firm sceptic, I could see the manipulations from certain individuals but I felt like it just added to watching Oliver’s spiral.

My theory kept changing and evolving as I was reading and like I said, I feel like I engage more with the way these books are narrated because it seems like a more tangible, solvable puzzle than your average mystery novel! Once the pieces start to slide into place, though? I was screeching as it all came together because I didn’t really see it coming! Plus the injustice didn’t sit right with me, but sometimes things are a little grey!

Oliver’s journey from sceptic to believer was actually quite intriguing and it was honestly quite easy to see just how that kind of thing happens. How you get lured in and manipulated and such, and the conditions that contribute to it. However, I did have my suspicions towards the end about whether or not he was as enraptured as he seemed, but it just added to the suspense!

Generally though, I actually considered him a bit of a nasty piece of work. Especially once it was revealed what he’d done, and I was firmly on Amanda’s side! Even if she did go too far to solve it at the risk of her own personal safety! I feel like she and Oliver are another grey area really because neither of them were angels (no pun intended), you can see how fake Amanda could be through her correspondence but there were also glimmers of a good person.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that, even if I did choose a side, Hallett writes characters that are very real and easy to relate to because they make mistakes and aren’t perfect just like everyone else!

In any case, this was another brilliantly twisty mystery that’s hard to put down and I can’t wait to see what comes next! Hallett provides something unique and different each time, with an unusual narrative style that hooks me in!

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels

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?

I was so nervous going into this book as I adored The Appeal but hated The Twyford Code so I didn't know what to expect but i think I loved this even more than The Appeal it was so brilliantly put together and I just couldn't put it down. Janice Hallett format is taking Mystery stories to a whole new level. Also the research that must have gone into this book deserves 5 stars on its own ! Highly recommend picking this book up immediately! 🥰

Thank you to Netgalley, Viper Books and Janice Hallett for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest Review

Well written, addictive and unpredictable. This is a book I have really enjoyed and devoured. i definitely want to read more from this author. Full Review to follow.

this is my favourite book by the author so far!

i was absolutely encapsulated by the book, and it’s been a long time since i stayed up later than expected because i couldn’t put the book down. especially towards the end where the case unravels, i could feel my heart beating!

the concept of two journalists investigating a cold case about a cult, the death of 4 of its members, and the survival of a baby born into it captured my curiosity instantly.

i don’t want to say too much incase i accidentally spoil anything (or give you a clue), but i would highly recommend this one!

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a dark, twisty mystery and I loved how the puzzle pieces slowly slotted into place. The author provided a steady drip of information and just as I thought I’d figured out what was going on, another twist was thrown at me.

It’s dark and creepy in places, but also really witty and humorous in others. I wasn’t expecting to be so drawn in but I loved how the tension gradually built. The plot was well paced and I felt like I raced through the book.

I loved the format and the whole story felt so authentic. I almost believed there was a real life case of the Alperton Angels. I think the format of the book really added to the authenticity.

It’s safe to say I loved this book. It was clever, ambitious and so incredibly gripping. I now can’t wait to read Janice Hallett’s previous novels.

My full review can be found at:

https://mmbbookblog.com/the-mysterious-case-of-the-alperton-angels-review-janice-hallett/

This is the first book I have read by this author but definitely won’t be the last. Janice Hallett is now an auto it author. I couldn’t read this book quick enough and looked forward to picking it back up.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hands down the most ambitious and innovative mystery novel I've read in the last few years. I missed the author's previous two books, but after finishing this one I immediately added them to my TBR.

I'm simply flabbergasted by how the author pulled this off. A complex plot, with well-developed characters, completely told through mixed-media? It seems like an impossible task, so hats off to Janice Hallett for making it work.

Amanda Bailey is a true crime novelist who gets approached to write an updated book on the almost 20-year-old case of the Alperton Angels, which involved ritualistic murders and a cult led by a man claiming to be the Archangel Gabriel. There was also a baby somehow involved in all of it. Amanda's tasked with finding the baby, now presumably an adult, but the more she pulls on whichever thread she can find, the more convoluted the entire case becomes. On top of that, a former colleague of Amanda is trying to steal her scoop by looking for the Alperton baby too. They reluctantly agree to work together, but their history might only complicate things even further.

This story grabbed me tight and didn't let go for almost two days until I had finished it. If I could have gone without food and sleep, it wouldn't have taken me quite that long to finish it. Holy hell, this book is one giant wild ride. Because the story is told through the medium of interview transcripts, emails, text messages, newspaper articles, etc. etc. it never really felt like I was reading a particularly long book. I flew through the book and reached the conclusion before I fully realised it. And I was left speechless. Once I had regained speech, the only word I could utter was "wow". What a phenomenal story. It actually stopped feeling like fiction at a certain point, and I was convinced I could go online and look up the details of the case.

Please, Janice Hallett, keep writing books like this. I desperately need them.

Incredible! I love the format of this authors books, it’s a different and interesting way to tell a story - especially a mystery. Very gripping, complex and an absolute must read.

The Appeal was a five star read for me and I enjoyed this latest title just as much. Fresh, compelling and expert plotting. A must read.

I have read this book twice once in December of 2022 where it snuck its way on to my top reads of the year list in the last minute and then again when I received my physical pre-order. Both times I adored it and I knew if I sat down to write my review it would just read like this …

OMG READ THIS BOOK. IT’S SO GOOD

I wanted my review to be a little more nuanced than that so I waited. I waited to write this review until after I saw Janice Hallett speak about it and I am glad I did. It was so interesting to hear about her writing process and her background as a screen writer, as a journalist in the cut-throat world of beauty industry magazines and her curiosity around true crime stories. It added so much to the back ground of how she structures her novels but also to the main character of Alperton Angels who is a former journalist turned True Crime novelist.

Like Hallett’s first novel The Appeal, this story is told though a varied mixed media format of emails, text messages, transcribed conversations, snippets of a paranormal YA romance novel and a unproduced film script it all comes together gloriously to build into a great mystery with all its twists and turns. It fantastically treads the line between thriller and the paranormal, having you wandering if it will at any point tip over into the uncanny or give you the reasonable explanation to it all. There are scenes where even I as the reader started to feel gas lit a little as the emotions and the confusion/desperation and drive of the characters really leapt through. There are real spine tingling moments too, when the cult is being explored and that line between creepy/spooky is walked so expertly.

Angela as a main character is forceful, she does what she needs to do to get the job done even if that is sometimes underhanded. I really like how we learnt more and more about Amanda as the novel progressed. The way the information about each person, their connection with the case is paced throughout is just fantastic. All leading to a finale that is nail-biting. Hearing Janice Hallett speak about her research just solidifies the great attention to the details that flow through the book. I am just in awe of the construction and novel craft to pull what seems like a random collection of items into such a captivating story.

I am a huge fan of Hallett’s work and a huge fan of this book. If you are interested in true crime, cults or just a different narrative style I would highly recommend giving this one a try.

Great crime thriller book. Fun and easy to read. Great to read mixed media throughout the story. This was a very well written story.

Having enjoyed the previous books by Janice Hallett I was looking forward The Alperton Angels. I do enjoy the format of these books, unravelling the mystery as the investigation proceeds.

I must confess I found this one more difficult to follow than the others. It started ok, murder, punishment, and mystery surrounding the events involving The Angels and moved along at a swift pace. It was very clever but towards the end there was so many characters and so much going on that I felt the substance and therefore the impact was lost a little. I would, however, still read more by this author and would overall recommend.

I was hooked from the beginning of this book. I thought the storytelling method, using various formats (including emails, WhatsApp messages, and transcripts), was very clever. The story felt believable and realistic. I will read previous books by author (The Appeal and The Twyford Code). I would recommend this book to readers who are armchair detectives or enjoy true crime.

She’s gone and done it again. After the great success of The Appeal and The Twyford Code (review here) Janice Hallett has gone on to produce another fiendishly plotted crime thriller. Once again, she has also avoided regular prose conventions and produced a novel which comprises text messages, WhatsApp messages, emails, pages from novels and transcribed conversations. It takes considerable skill to assemble all these pieces of ‘text’ into a cogent and entertaining novel. Impressive though it is at times I did find it a little be tiring as a reader.

A recurring theme throughout the story is the law of unintended consequences. Oliver plays a prank on Amanda when they are apprentice reporters, but instead of being a bit of a laugh it ends up with serious consequences for Amanda, the pain of which shapes the rest of her life. Years later when she tries to extract her revenge Oliver’s reaction is very much unexpected and out of her control. Then when Amanda’s friend tries to give Oliver a helping hand with his research her gentle nudge sets in motion a series of events that end in tragedy.


There’s plenty of subterfuge at work, something that the author excels at. The reader first notices it when some ‘witnesses’ recall the Angels being around in the early 90s whereas others some ten years later which is the time of their suicide and is included in contemporary newspaper reports. Memory lapses due to the passage of time? Then there is the mysterious Marie-Claire who some recall as a police officer but there are differing descriptions of her with some even disagreeing whether she was black or white. Just two of the conundrums to be solved along the way before the truth is revealed.

For me the plot pushes credibility to the limit but it is written with such conviction that it almost seems insignificant as you are swamped with clues and red herrings amongst the masses of information. This also results in a fairly slow storyline, this is not something that can be rushed as bit by bit facts are painstakingly assembled.

The format might not lend itself to stylish prose but it more than makes up for it in dialogue as the various interviews are transcribed and the use of texts and emails which are less formal. The bits with Amanda and Oliver crackle along with energy, whilst those with Amanda and Ellie are typical of friends and ‘female banter.’ It also works great for conveying a sense of anxiety, such as Ellie’s multiple messages when she can’t get Amanda to respond and uncertainty when characters don’t respond in a way expected.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a magnificent puzzle of a novel that will frustrate, intrigue and delight fans of this genre.

Of course thanks go to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for providing the eARC in exchange for a fair review.

Oh Janice! I was sadly quite disappointed in this book having loved her previous two. It is very much the same formula - and I did enjoy reading it - but there were times when I slightly lost the plot and found myself not caring about the main character in the same way as I have in the past.