Absolutely amazing! Takes you on a twisty and intense ride from start to finish. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this one early. If you are a lover of thrillers or mysteries that keep you guessing this is the book for you! Pulls you in with the true crime and cult premise and before you know it you can’t even imagine putting the book down until you get to the bottom of everything! The format of the storytelling adds another level to it all. If you enjoyed other books by Janice you will love this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Janice Hallett, and Atria Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a fascinating read, and I can honestly say that I've never read a thriller/mystery like this before! I've seen Hallett's previous book, The Appeal, discussed everywhere, but this was my first foray into her work. I love any book about cults, especially mystery ones, and this did not disappoint. To be transparent, this book was a bit long and dragged in parts, simply due to the nature of the story. I wasn't aware before I started reading that this book is told exclusively through text messages, emails, and interview transcriptions. This format definitely makes it a bit tedious to read through at times. I will also say that this is a very smart book. There are a lot of twists and turns I did not predict, but due to this, I also don't think I fully understood the case lol. There are a lot of people mentioned in the story, and seeing so much "research" come together made this book complicated for me as a casual reader to understand. However, I appreciated that because it felt like a very intelligent, thought-out mystery that seemed very REAL. The entire book read as if it could have been a true case and real people talking, and I loved that! Hallett writes at an elevated level that is not quite for the casual mystery reader but a treat for those who are tired of the same predictability from the genre. I look forward to checking out her other work, if this book is any indication.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this novel to read and review.

Author Janice Hallett’s recent The Twyford Code was a marvel of multiple perspectives, with many plot twists and an unexpected denouement. If anything, this one is even more so.

This novel lays out what purports to be actual documentation of a fascinating cold case with satanic cult overtones that no one is, seemingly, any closer to solving 18 years after multiple murders took place in an abandoned warehouse in London. The leaders were “archangels” who recruited angel-followers, various vulnerable teenagers, to help their cause of bringing about the end days. The primary victims were a teenage couple and a baby who was believed to be the anti-Christ. The couple survived and went into hiding. The baby has never been traced. “Find the baby,” now 18 years old, is the journalists’ burning motivation.

The main story focuses on the rivalry between two true crime journalists. Amanda Bailey is an established and respected author from an impoverished dysfunctional family who placed herself in foster care at the age of 12. Oliver Menzies is an arrogant “posh” from a privileged background, a low-achiever who looked down on those more talented and less posh. At the start of the story, they are holding a no-holds-barred battle to be the first with the true story of what happened in what had passed into popular culture as the Alperton Angels case. Their competition is fierce, and personal, and goes back to the days when they each won a coveted newspaper apprenticeship. Amanda was a high school student with a bad luck past, rare maturity, and notable talent. Oliver had a history degree from an un-prestigious university and no real aptitude, but his mother knew the newspaper owner. Thanks to a nasty trick he played on Amanda, out of spiteful jealousy, she lost her already shaky trust in others. This proved to be a plus in her chosen career, but ruined her apprenticeship and her personal relationships for life. After avoiding each other for years, they are obliged to work together on the Alperton case.

The story is told through email exchanges between Amanda, Oliver, and other key figures, often introducing hidden elements and rerouting initial ideas. How this affects Amanda is seen in drafts of several opening chapters for her book, that each highlight a different player’s experience (including Oliver’s) as she searches for new angles. as dead ends, new evidence or new editorial demands (the editors messages are hilarious) shift suddenly. Amanda brilliantly pivots to meet each shift, obsessive about getting the real story despite the lies and ploys involved, at which she also excels. Oliver does the same and worse: he is so drawn into the satanic cult story that he becomes seriously unhinged.

At first, Amanda’s faithful assistant Ellie is known only through her bracketed interjections in typed transcripts of Amanda’s interviews. She occasionally appears in concerned messages, and also shared her research about cults, and what draws people to certain individuals and missions no matter how irrational. Hallett’s research into this subject, the equally complicated workings of the child welfare system, and covert police operations, are of textbook quality. Ellie’s role is ultimately far more important than even she and Amanda know.

This book about “dark forces” is written with such humour that you really do not see what is coming. Both the beginning and the end present the story as itself a case of true crime and make the reader a character with some power in the outcome. The only negative is that I flew through it so fast I was left wanting it not to be over…

✨ARC Review✨

Journalist and true crime author Amanda has been tasked to write a book about the Alperton Angels, the infamous case of a London teenage girl falling in with a cult and believing her baby was the anti-Christ. The teenager was able to call the police and escape, but the cult members killed themselves and the baby was never found.

Told as an epistolary novel in emails, texts, and transcriptions, Amanda needs to figure out what happened to the baby while trying to finish her novel before her rival, who is working on the same thing - and staying away from dangers lurking from the past.

This was my first Janice Hallett novel and won’t be my last! I actually really liked this story, but I wasn’t thrilled with the ending. This one comes out Jan. 23! Add it to your TBR if you like murder mysteries or books about cults.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital copy of this book!

I absolutely love Janice Hallet and the intricate mysteries she manages to unravel through mixed media alone. This one captivated me from the start and surprised me until the end!

I don’t want to say too much here because it’s best to go into her books blind, but we have the old case of. a small cult who had plans to sacrifice a baby, and two competing journalists trying to find this baby 18 years later.

The rivalry between Amanda and Oliver was fun and goes a little off the rails, the mystery was fantastic, and the conclusion knocked my socks off, as always.

If you haven’t read Janice Hallett, please give her a try!

I tried to figure out why this book was keeping me up at night in a restless state...it has nothing to do with the topic, but everything to do with the format. I was reading a woman's work life at bed time...I do that all day long, so a book entirely formatted as emails, interviews and texts was super stressful. I am not sure who thought this was a smart plan? I would have loved it based on the cult, the mystery and the setting.. but sadly gave up at 42%.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love, love, LOVE everything about Janice Hallett’s brilliantly twisted meta-fiction novel, “The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels,” because it’s cleverly written as an immersive investigative piece by a ‘true crime’ journalist, Amanda. Readers vicariously become Amanda because we are first-hand eyewitnesses to her daily life as she writes texts and copy; sifts through communication responses; talks to contacts; and everything else that she encounters through this period..

Yet who is the REAL Amanda? What’s her backstory story? Regardless, she’s detail-oriented; a stickler for the facts, and a perfectionist for the perfect lead. “Angels” provides clues (and misdirection) throughout the novel for discerning and shrewd literary detectives to evaluate and solve.

“Angels” is a gazillion-piece puzzle in shades of gray. Once you finally get the outline figured out—which isn’t easy—it all starts coming together. Some resolutions weren’t to my liking. However, I’m not the one telling the story. The ending probably had to be the eerie conclusion that it is. “Angels” reinforces that there are powerful forces that should never be engaged nor antagonized.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Janice Hallertt, Publisher Altria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, celebrating it’s Publishing Centennial January 2024, for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

Every single time I pick up a Janice Hallett book I am blown away by her mind. The way she weaves her stories together is truly amazing. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels was no different.

I seriously can’t get over how good the formatting of this book is. From the characters to the plot, everything is so well fleshed out. I truly enjoyed this story.

I will say the middle dragged on for me a bit. But that ending made up for it! Janice Hallett is always going to be an auto buy author for me.
4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Eighteen years ago, the Alperton Angels, a cult, committed suicide after failing to kill a baby they believed was the Antichrist. True crime author Amanda Baily is researching the cult and the baby, now an adult, for her next book.

This complex story is told totally through texts, emails, messages and other documents. You need to read carefully to find the many hints that are dropped along the way. There are many twists and turns to the plot as well.

Thank you, Atria Books and Net Galley, for the advanced copy of this book. I will be on the lookout for Janice Hallett's next novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

The format really threw me off. It's mostly emails and WhatsApp messages you're reading through to tell the story. On occasion it's news articles and handwritten letters. It can get confusing between all of them and having to double check the headers to see who said what, so that's the reason for removing 1 star. As you must be very detail oriented to not cause yourself any confusing during this read. Otherwise, if you can look past the layout and format... the story is quite decent in the 2nd half of the book. I was shocked by the twist at the ending. 3.5 to 4 stars!

I received this book from NetGalley to read and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one. The Appeal and The Christmas Appeal were solid books but lay pretty squarely in “cozy mystery.” I expected the same for Alberton but this book is much darker than her previous books.

I absolutely devoured it in about three sittings. I’m use to Hallett’s story structuring from her previous books so it didn’t take long to get absorbed into the story. As mentioned, this gets pretty dark with satanic sacrifice and some more gorier moments than what was in The Appeal. Thankfully those are right up my alley so no worries there.

As with most twisty thrillers these days this book loses quite a bit of plausibility with me. Honestly, it could’ve left out a twist or two and still been as satisfying. I found this book easier to read than her previous novels as it focused more directly on one characters. There were *plenty* of others thrown at you and throw in aliases (at times the same alias for multiple characters), so it could be a bit convoluted at times. Regardless, if you stick it out it comes together in the end quite well.

I received a review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"The Case of the Mysterious Alpertons" by Janice Hallett is a brilliant homage to classic mystery storytelling that ingeniously reinvents the genre for modern readers. Set in a small English town, this epistolary novel unfolds through emails, texts, and documents, inviting readers into a captivating puzzle.

Hallett's storytelling mastery shines through the unconventional format, keeping readers glued to the pages as they piece together clues and navigate the intricate web of relationships between the characters. Various communication mediums add depth and immediacy to the narrative, allowing for a uniquely immersive reading experience.

This novel's clever structure and meticulous attention to detail make it stand out. Every email, message, or document contributes to the unfolding mystery, ensuring no detail is wasted. The characters are vividly portrayed, each with a distinct voice and secrets, adding complexity to the story.

The plot is intricately woven, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The twists and turns are expertly crafted, delivering both satisfying and thought-provoking surprises. While some mysteries can feel contrived, "The Case of the Mysterious Alpertons" feels refreshingly authentic in its execution. The last half of the book is deliciously twisty.

Hallett's storytelling prowess and the novel's inventive format make it a must-read for mystery enthusiasts and anyone seeking a clever, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable literary puzzle. "The Case of the Mysterious Alpertons" is a testament to Hallett's talent and a delightful addition to the mystery genre.

I love a cult story, i love a mystery. This had it all. I also loved the epistolary style of writing, with various types of media included.

I was a little apprehensive about starting this book after the last book by this author ended being a disappointment. But what did not work at all in the last book did wonderfully well in this particular story. It felt like we were oart of the investigation along with Amanda trying to find out what happened in the Alperton Angels case. My one complaint is the ending which was made needlessly complex and a little unbelievable to be honest. Everything else including the characters and the format gets a big thumbs up. A definite improvement from the author’s last book and one I would definitely recommend

I am living for these new styled mysteries and thrillers. Domestic thrillers are growing old with the same predictable storylines and outcomes. I enjoyed trying to solve the cold case with the information that was given throughout the book. The case itself didn't excite me but I loved the format!

I love Janice Hallett's unique writing style. Her books are complex mysteries written in epistolary style, told through texts, emails, transcripts, news reports, and other mixed media. From what might initially appear fragmented, she skillfully weaves layered, intelligent, and suspenseful stories with well-developed characters. She is an auto-buy author for me, and this did not disappoint!

The story centered around two competing journalists writing books about an infamous cult whose members thought they were angels on Earth. Both of them are trying to track down the identity of a baby at the center of the mysterious cult-- a baby who would be an adult now but disappeared many years ago, along with its mother. Conflicting evidence, dead ends, and secrets abound.

Well-written and compelling, Hallett pulled me into this investigation and kept me guessing and off balance, which I thoroughly enjoyed! The characters were so good, the mystery was a bit creepy and cleverly done, and the ending was one I could have never predicted. This was a fun read! Twisty and dark, with moments of irreverent humor, and very entertaining!

Thank you to NetGalley, Janice Hallett, and Atria Books for the free book!

In 2003, a cult failed to sacrifice a baby and performed a mass suicide. The leader, Gabriel, is now in prison, not for the murder of his cult members but for the murder of a waiter. In 2021, Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the case, and she finds it becomes more and more mysterious.

I had so much fun with this book. The mixed media format worked well for me and was engaging. I think that book clubs would love discussing this book, especially the question at the end.

Janice Hallett is known for her unusually structured books. This somewhat epistolary novel is framed as around a journalist looking for the truth behind a cult's suicide pact and the events surrounding it. The Alperton Angels were a group who thought they were angels on Earth and were out to rid the world of the anti-Christ, a baby. When the baby survives and disappears, journalists are determined to open the cold case and find the survivors.

Unfortunately, this format and overly convoluted narrative left me unconnected and confused. I was alternately bored and uninterested. I did like how the end wrapped up but by then I didn't completely care. Hallett's books are not for everyone, and it turns out what has kept me interested in them before wasn't really there in this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Thank you to Atria for this great mystery! The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett is a big win for me, I really do love reading this author and engaging with her mysteries in epistolatory form.

Indeed, I am an admirer of Hallett's work, I love how she makes epistolatory writing into an effective way to share a mystery story, I feel as though I am getting to truly be in the mystery, trying to solve it and put the puzzle together when I read her books. I appreciate the style and pacing, the way a plot just works in her hands, and how creative she is at dropping in clues, moving the story along, and never leaving me as a reader feel confused or unsure of how clues or the bigger themes are being resolved.

What works here with Hallett's newest is that she is moving into using screenplays, news stories, and other forms, not just texts/emails and messages. I loved the story itself as well, themes on cults/missing people, true crime writer tropes... how these all come together in a story and format that feel new and fresh and so very worthy of a winter storm weekend read (or your winter beach vacation).

This book was completely unhinged in a good way I think. The plot was propulsive and it kept me reading but a lot of the plot items seemed very implausible. Overall I enjoyed it!