This was a different kind of thriller, but I also found it very confusing. Katie Shaws brother who once attacked by a crazy man, becomes a drug addict and has now gone missing. He’s somehow connected to another story going where two brothers have a long-standing feud.

This was a very confusing listen. Maybe it was the audio, but I think it was just the whole story and how they were connected. I couldn’t keep all these characters straight in my head, maybe partly bc Alan and Edward the brothers were referred to by their last names Hobbs and Leland as well.

Pick this up if you’re into figuring things out when you read and want to unravel the mystery.

I have to be honest… I really didn’t like book much at all.
A few reviews have mentioned how difficult it was to listen and multitask, but I was just driving and I still felt like the story was being told in a way that wasn’t working for me. I loved the narrator, so I don’t think that was my issue.
I do tend to avoid fantasy books on audio, but I can handle a complex thriller or a Stephen King novel with 7000 characters, so it’s not like I couldn’t keep up with what was happening. It was just frustratingly slow and needlessly intertwined and just not laid out in a way that I enjoyed.
Overall, I felt like the book was interesting in the end, but I didn’t like the execution at all.
I was so happy that the book was over when I finished. I wanted to love it and I am bummed that I ended up hating it so much.

THE ANGEL MAKER review

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🔥I read The Whisper Man back in 2021 and loooooved it so I was super excited to read the latest release by this author! While the writing in this one was definitely super creepy and gave horror vibes, I still prefer The Whisper Man.

🔥Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
When he was just a young boy, Chris was violently attacked by a serial killer but managed to survive. Now as an adult, the trauma he dealt with as a child has led him to make some questionable choices. When a well known professor is found brutally murdered, all signs seem to point to Chris. His big sister Katie is determined to clear her brother’s name and prove his innocence, until Chris goes missing…

🔥My main issue with this story was how confusing it was to follow on audio. Because I had an advanced copy, I only had access to the audio version and I think the physical/e-book would have been better for this story. It switches between the past and present very frequently and also changes POVs constantly. It was a lot to keep track of on audio and the ending all happened so quickly I was honestly confused and had to go back and relisten to the last 2 chapters. 😂 I liked the creepy, horror vibes of this one and would still recommend checking it out. Just go for physical or e-book instead of audio only!

🔥Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for my copy of this one! It publishes everywhere February 28, 2023!

This one was a little hard to follow on audio but it was enjoyable. I liked all the characters stories and was left guessing until the very end. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I started listening and didn't stop till the mystery was revealed.

It was kind of challenging keeping the characters' relationships straight in the beginning, especially with the flashbacks, which I do find are a little more difficult in audiobooks, but I figured it out.

Without giving anything away, the pacing is steady, similar to Alex's previous novels. The action does get bogged down sometimes with the allusions to the past, but nothing that took away too much.

There was a point where I wanted to tell a character to just call the police to get help, because it would have solved A LOT, but, well, then there wouldn't have been that element of danger in the plot.

Overall, I found this to be an entertaining read.

I want to start off by saying that I received early audiobook copy. In return for my honest thoughts and my review. I have listened to this author previous books. The Shadows and The Whisper Man. So when I saw this on Netgalley. I knew I had to listen to authors new book.
This audiobook didn’t disappoint me. I couldn’t stop listening to this book. Needing to know who and what.
Yes there is multiple POV. Yes I had to make sure that I was paying attention while listening so I didn’t miss anything. The narrator does amazing job. Keeping wanting to know what happens next. To read about a killer who sees the future creeps me out. But these types of books makes you think.
About Book:
Katie Shaw still lives in the past when comes to her younger brother who was attacked when he was younger. When Alan Hobbs is murdered. Is Chris the prime suspect and why were the detectives looking for him. Katie and her mother haven’t seen Chris for years.
This a book that I highly recommend. Yes there are multiple POV. This book comes out February 28,2023 highly recommend this audiobook. My review is up everywhere amazon and goodreads and bookbub.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for allowing me to listen amazing book.

This is my first title from this author, and I had high hopes based on reviews of friends for their other works. However, this missed the mark for me, I just really never got invested in the story. I think there were good bones to the plot, but I found the plot lines hard to keep straight, and I never really gained any interest, even as the story progressed.

THE ANGEL MAKER by Alex North is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you on edge from start to finish. As the investigation unfolds, the reader is taken on a dark and twisted journey that explores the depths of the human psyche and how far a sister is willing to go to save her brother. North masterfully weaves together multiple storylines and characters, creating a rich and complex narrative. The characters are well-developed, with their flaws and vulnerabilities adding to the sense of realism. The writing is taut and evocative, creating an atmosphere of unease that persists throughout the novel. Mr. North has once again proven himself to be a master of the psychological thriller genre and I will probably be scared of going to bed for a few days. 😧

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio!

As a devoted Alex North fan it has been exceptionally difficult for me to give The Angel Maker two stars.

From the start of the book it is difficult to follow and all over the place, because of this it made it really hard to get invested into the characters and the situations at hand.

Overall it just felt very disorganized and all over the place.

In regards to the narration it felt very standard. Although at times even the Narrator sounded bored.

Thank you, Celadon Books, for the gifted copy of The Angel Maker {partner}

Genre: Horror
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 2.28.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆

"An interest in death, a desire to touch evil from a safe distance - where it can't touch them back."

Ohhhh, boy, this book was just so many things, and I can't say any of them were good. I enjoyed Alex North's first book - The Whisper Man, but his last couple of books have been a miss for me. So, let's examine why The Angel Maker wasn't for me.

I started out reading this book ad was invested after the first chapter but then the pacing started to slow, and there were all these characters added to the story, making it hard to follow. But I wanted to give the audio a chance. I'm glad I did because it prevented me from completely DNFing The Angel Maker, so if you need help, try listening instead.

There were few clues about when the story switched between past and present, so I needed clarification about where I was in time with almost every new chapter. Some characters had similar names, and some appeared in the past and the present, making it practically impossible to figure out.

I also thought the book was going in one direction, but then it went in a completely different direction, which made very little sense. The Angel Maker had a lot of potential to be good, but it just tried to be too many things.

By the end, I had no idea what was happening, and I still couldn't tell you what characters were involved in which storyline. It was just an overwhelming flop for me. I will give Alex North one more chance, and then I will move on from his books.

This feels like a "it's not you, it's me" kind of book. My mind was really wandering during this one and I'm not sure if it is because of the amount of characters and plots or just general distractions. I had a hard time keeping track of the characters. The ending left a lot to be desired for me and when I was finished reading I wasn't sure if that much even happened throughout the book. With that said, there were so genuine horrifying moments in this one that really had me spooked. I'll still read whatever North puts out next as he is clearly is a talented storyteller.

Wow, this mystery had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! The plot was so intricate and complex that I could hardly keep up with all the twists and turns. Sure, it was a bit challenging to keep track of all the different characters since it was told from multiple points of view, but that was part of the fun! I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was so engaging that I could barely put it down (or turn it off, rather).

However, there were some time jumps that confused me, and I might need to reread the physical copy to fully understand the connections. But even with these minor bumps in the road, the mystery was top-notch, and the suspense had me biting my nails with anticipation. And although I predicted the ending correctly, that didn't stop me from enjoying the excellent storytelling and intricate character development.

In fact, the plot was so complex that I'm still trying to unravel how it's all connected days after finishing the book! It's a true mark of an outstanding read when it lingers in your mind long after you've put it down. And let me tell you, any book that can do that is an instant favorite of mine!

Big thanks to Celadon books for the approval to read an early copy of The Angel Maker. SUPER excited to get to read new Alex North. It is just as creepy and twisty as I remember The Whisper Man being! (haven't read The Shadows yet)

I did a hybrid of audiobook and ebook because I tried to listen to the audiobook while working (as I usually do) but could NOT keep anything straight without seeing words on the page, lol. It all came together by the end but certainly if you're like me you will need to work on focus :-)

My one downfall was it took some time to get the people and timelines straight. Like, I probably could have kept a notesheet of people & dates to have an easier time trying to make sense of the seemingly unrelated characters. BUT worry not-- everything comes together and makes sense by the end. Wow, just wow; the way all the character's lives end up being intertwined... crazy and twisty and awesome.

I loved the creepy feel of this story. Specifically descriptions of the house Hobbes lives in, the story of the serial killer Jack Lock, and the mystery of a missing child. I also found the aspect of determinism fascinating. It made me wonder if people that believe this find life super boring; they're just resigned that they have no say in what happens to them!? Nahhh, I ain't here for it.

Totally loved the story and thought the narrator did a wonderful job. The right inflections, differences in voice for dialogue. She blew it away!

There was so much going on in this book! So many twists. So many turns. I had a hard time keeping up. Much of the time while reading I was waiting for the plot to pick up the pace and give me something meaty to bite into. At the end the author provided us with a delicious twist that I didn't see it coming and it was great! It was unexpected and heartbreaking all at once.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was an audiobook that I really struggled with. The narrator lacked much inflection, so I found myself drifting off and needing to back up multiple times. Without the strong narration, much of the suspense fell to the side. The tie-ins were fine; some obvious, some a stretch. In the end, it wasn't anything surprising.

Overall: 3

I'll tell my students about: violence/murder/gore, death, mental trauma,

**Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC prior to publication. All opinions expressed are my own.**

So,

Thanks Netgalley for my ARC copy.
I didn't get it.
The story started off promising, devious things happen based on the decisions we make, or, regardless of the decisions we make?
Katie Shaw made one "selfish" decision that changed her life, and those of her family, forever.
The book bounces from past to present in a slew of "it's my turn now" POVs, telling a story that should really be captivating (because of it's violent origins) but ended up missing the mark for me.
The characters barely had a chance to develop because of the ping ponging of POVs, both past and present which left me trying to sync it all up so it could make sense.
I did enjoy the first few chapters, they pulled me in and had all the markings of an unforgettable mystery.
Alas, this one wasn't my cuppa

I loved Whisper Man so much and will try anything Alex North writes. The Shadows was a bit of a letdown so I went in with medium expectations this go around. Unfortunately the story just didn’t quite catch my interest. I found my attention waning quite quickly and decided to set it down. I haven’t had any desire to pick it back up so it’s a dnf for me.

I'm a bit unsure how I felt about this book. I listened to the audiobook, which I enjoyed if just for the narrator. However, and this may be BECAUSE I was listening to the audio-ARC, I was a bit lost for much of the book. At least the first 30% of the book had me incredibly confused and unsure what to keep track of. I think I missed the connection between Michael Hyde and the rest of the characters??? I also think the character names were too similar like Hobbs and Hyde. The mom was also the most confusing character in the whole book. Just tell your children that one of them is adopted. They deserve to know.

The time skips were confusing--because of Leland's (excuse my name-spelling, I don't know how to spell some of the names because I listened) madness, I wasn't ever sure what scenes he "remembered" were real or imagined. Because of that, I think I missed a bit around the beginning/middle that I likely won't be able to link up until the book is published.

I enjoyed the book by the end, and appreciated the twists and turns and how the mystery shifted with the reader. The ending was a bit disappointing because I'm so curious about what Jack Lock's book said. To write this, North must've written the ending then worked backwards because everything connected to smoothly. I appreciated the way the mystery is woven through such a complicated web that the question of if Jack Lock could tell the future was honestly believable.

Questions I was left with:

Why did Katie keep referring to James by last name? That felt weird.
Why did Michael Hyde try to hurt Christopher as a child?
Was Katie let off for the assault thing? That was a pretty serious situation.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook-ARC

I wanted to like this book so much, because I loved The Whisper Man. I just couldn’t ever latch on to this one. I found myself having to constantly rewind and go back to listen because my mind kept wandering off.

This book was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely terrifying and thrilling at the same time. One of my favorite books!!