I am always drawn to stories about cults as I find them fascinating. I loved the way this story was told through different media. At times the story could get confusing as there were a lot of names and nicknames used. Otherwise, a well written story.

I first read Janet Hallett's epistolary novel, The Appeal, and loved it. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels has the fun format of an epistolary novel but the topic is more serious. I loved the true crime angle this book has and the way everything plays out. Overall, another great book by Janet Hallett.

Title: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
Publication Date- Jan. 23rd
Publisher- Atria Books
Overall Rating- DNF at 60 percent

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I did not finish this book and stopped reading at 60 percent.

Review: Unfortunately this didn’t work for me. The entire book is told in mixed media format which I typically love. At first, I had a hard time figuring out what was going on and who was who. As I read more, that was less of a problem and the story became more clear. Around the 50 percent mark I started to not want to pick the book up any more. This could be a case of bad timing for me. I found the story slow but usually that is something I love with mystery novels. For some reason I just wasn’t enjoying it any more and didn’t feel that I needed to get all the answers and finish the novel. That being said, I would say if you’ve like this author before (this was my first by her) then you may enjoy this. I would like to read more mixed media in the future, that element was mostly fun.

The characters are likable and at times morally gray. The overall story and plot points are interesting. I did appreciate that the author dives into the aspects of journalism that may or may not be ethical. I liked reading and thinking about those elements. Even though I chose to not finish the book, I think others should give it a try. Especially if you like mixed media, slow burn mysteries, cult stories and journalism. Even writing those elements out makes me feel excited, I wish I could pinpoint more of why this didn’t work for me.

It was an infamous event: the grisly cult suicide, the infant who escaped, the charismatic cult leader—claiming to be an angel—who was responsible for it all. Now seems the the perfect time for two authors to revisit the case: especially since the cult leader has been behind bars and the baby (whereabouts and identity unknown) is going to turn 18.

Everyone know about the Alperton Angels. Or…do they?

Janice Hallett continues her mastery of the modern epistolary/mixed media mystery genre. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is immersive, engaging, and intelligent. Through a number of different forms of media, the reader joins the two authors to discover exactly who the Alperton Angels were…and what happened that night so many years ago.

If you like a good, clever mystery—this is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

My last read of 2023 was The Appeal by Janice Hallett and I'm so glad that my first read of 2024 is another one of her novels! I was engrossed from beginning to end and this author will be one whose books I will read, no questions asked, no need to read the back.

How everything fit together and all the questions answered was so artfully done. The format of the book is intriguing and innovative. I can tell the author put in a lot of research for this book.

For me this was a quick read and I'm already impatient to read other works!

oh wow!!!! I have no idea what I was expecting, other than a similar style to THE APPEAL - and I’m so glad to be proven both right and wrong at the same time 😮‍💨

keeping the genius style of describing the case through emails, interviews and texts, the focus on a true crime (fictional in terms of the story) upped the level of the drama and plot! by leaning on a cold case with gruesome consequences, the stakes were so much higher, and I felt like janice created a much more serious tone rather than the cozy vibes of THE APPEAL

and the plot itself had me absolutely mind-blown!! it had the elements of a spooky horror novel but transformed into a divine novel, letting the reader question whether the events of the story are truly mystical or whether there’s an explanation for it all

and can we talk about that ending?? I was shocked

amanda was the perfect investigative MC to follow, and while the book itself was so long, it didn’t feel like it at all - I binged it in two days! this is definitely one that I’m going to want to re-read and look for everything I missed the first time 🤯🤯🤯

a huge thank you to netgalley and atria / simon and schuster for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! my favorite janice novel yet!

rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: left bank bordeaux blend

This is not my first book by Janice Hallett. I read The Appeal back in 2021, and the two stories follow the same technical format: story-telling through texts, emails, interviews, etc.… I wouldn’t like reading this format a lot. Still, I have to say that Hallett utilizes it exceptionally well, where it actually adds to the story and makes sense.

I absolutely adored all the twists and turns this story took. I didn’t see one coming until I was supposed to see it, and wow, what a story - a thriller - this ended up being! I haven’t figured out the pacing. It felt fast, yet I was never as far along as I thought when I looked at the pages. I believe that is one of the consequences of the technical aspect.

I also loved the cult plot - especially a cult of people who think they are angels on earth. It’s so instantly intriguing. It’s an area I find that I can’t instantly debunk. It seems a bit risky to discount it immediately. And that adds an extra layer to the story that is just perfection.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is my favorite book by Janice Hallett, and I am excited about what she has coming next.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels offers a real treat for fans of mystery novels with complex, creative plotting. It's one of those books that encourage late-night reading binges.

This is my second Janice Hallett novel (my first was The Twyford Code), and it certainly won't be my last. The novel follows a cold case, the "Alperton angels murders," in which a group of self-proclaimed angels determined to prevent the birth of the anti-Christ fail in their task, commit suicide (or did they?), with only a handful of cult members remaining: their leader, who is serving a life sentence for a related murder and two teenagers, the parents (or are they?) of that potentially apocalypse-initiating baby, and the baby itself.

Amanda Bailey, a well-known author of true crime novels has been tasked with writing a book based on that cold case as what will be the 18th birthday of that baby nears. If she can track that baby down and get exclusive rights, she'll have a blockbuster on her hands. But of course, there are complications.

The baby has been carefully hidden within social services red tape. Other authors who have researched the case are dying of what are assuredly unnatural causes. And Bailey finds herself forced to collaborate with a hated rival who seems to be embracing the angels and anti-Christ logic underlying the crime. Imagine the possibilities...

The novel consistently surprises until the end. If you like mysteries that make you think, you'll love The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.

I decided to read this one on a whim because I was really dying to add another five-star book or two to my list before the end of the year. It was a pretty lean reading year for them. I knew MegLovesBooks on booktube gave this one five stars and I love Janice Hallett, so I went for it.

I was so excited this ended up being a five-star read for me! Was it mostly based on vibes and being very addicted and intrigued the whole time? Yes. The format made it so easy to read (like Hallett's other books I've read) and I couldn't put it down. Cult books are hit or miss for me like they are with many people but I really loved the experience of reading it.

The book is about Amanda Bailey, a true crime author writing a book and collecting research on the Alperton Angels cult. She's "collaborating" with another guy as they try to track down the baby from 18 years ago who the cult viewed as the antichrist. The story, in typical Hallett style, featured interviews, chats and texts, emails, etc.... my favorite format of book to read.

I think if I could complain about anything, maybe I expected more twists?? Honestly though when I reflect back on everything that happened in this book, she really WENT THERE. The twists were twisting.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels was a fun mystery with many unexpected twists and turns - just how I like them. Plus it has an underlying cult theme, another one of my faves. Two competing true-crime authors are hunting the same story, which sets up tensions not typically seen in mystery novels - I enjoyed this aspect of the story.

The book is a collection of interview transcripts, messages, and other documents, so you must enjoy that writing style. Hallett's novel is not for you if you prefer a traditional narrative. There are many characters, and I used my Kindle search quite a bit to remind me of characters when they reappeared after a long absence in the story.

If you are looking for a good puzzle, engaging characters, and a not-too-gruesome mystery and enjoy novel writing styles, this book is a good one to pick up.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

This is Janice Hallett’s third mystery novel after The Appeal and The Twyford Code. (There is also her recent novella, The Christmas Appeal.) Hallett’s trademark is a variation on the epistolary novel. She presents a collection of written materials—emails, WhatsApp and other messages, transcripts of recorded conversations, documents, newspaper clippings, etc.—that someone (in reality, you, the reader) is supposed to go through and decide what has happened and what should now be done. In case you can’t figure it out, there is a figure who breaks it all down at the end.

In this book, writers and nemeses Amanda Bailey and Oliver Menzies are unwillingly forced by their publishers to collaborate on research for a true-crime nonfiction book about the decades-old so-called Alperton Angels cult murder/suicide case. This novel is about the investigation, principally from Amanda’s vantage point, but also about how Amanda and Oliver became enemies and how that plays out during their unwilling collaboration.

While I thought The Appeal was a hoot, I don’t think The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels lives up to it. Once the full story is revealed, the reasons why it has remained a mystery require too much suspension of disbelief. I enjoyed the reading process, though, and the many twists and turns. If the format interests you, and you like twisty crime novels, it’s worth reading.

I found this to be a bit confusing and it did not engage me right away like I was hoping. I've DNF'd it for now and I may try to pick it up again.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I love Hallett’s use of different methods to tell a story. This one was told entirely in transcriptions, text messages, and excerpts from books. This format kept the book moving forward and added to the mystery.

Another thing I enjoy about Hallett’s books is you have to read to the very end to figure out what is going on. This book was no different. The web that was created throughout finally untangled at the end.

While this was not my favorite of Hallett’s books, I was still entertained. I struggled to connect with the main characters in this one. I felt like if we had gotten Amanda’s backstory early on, it might’ve explained more. The teasing of her backstory didn’t work for me.

All in all, fans of mysteries, stories told through different methods, and cults will find this one interesting. Check it out!

4.5 stars rounded up. I absolutely love the non-traditional format that the author uses. She has become an "auto buy" author for me. This was another great one! There were times that my attention would wander and I felt like we weren't really getting anywhere but then it would all line up and things fell together. It's a great story with a great ending.

I absolutely loved The Appeal when I read it this summer. I was so excited to get this advanced copy of Hallett's new book! I've been loving her format. It keeps me engaged with the different styles (I.e., emails, texts, interview transcripts, etc.) The Appeal was more email based, occasionally texts. This book had it all. I think that this was actually too much switching around for me, though, especially when reading via Kindle. As a result, I've had to stop reading this book at about 50%. I enjoyed the story, and I want to give it another chance reading the physical text. But I just could not remain invested in the storyline. It really felt like it was dragging and there was so much information being thrown at me though all of the different formats in the book. I think the big difference between this book and The Appeal for me was the addition of the interview transcripts. I really struggled to get invested in them and understand what was happening. I'm really going to give this another try via physical book, though, before I give up on it entirely.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a fascinating mixed-media novel about a true crime author investigating a London cult from 18 years prior that ended in tragedy. The story is told largely in Amanda Bailey's perspective and correspondence as she tries to track down what actually happened that night. The small group was convinced that they were Angels on earth and multiple people died by suicide and a baby--presumed to be the antichrist--goes missing. Amanda's story angle is to track down the baby.

Early on, Amanda learns a previous acquaintance, Oliver Menzies, is working on the same story and they combine forces. We see how the story affects both of them as well as multiple perspectives and interpretations of everything that happened and how it still affects those involved. The story delves deeper and deeper into Amanda and Oliver's psyches and I had no idea where it would go as they head towards dangerous territory. How do you investigate a story that people don't want told? It's interesting to ponder how people can be manipulated into thinking things that seem illogical and completely outlandish. The twists were unexpected and the ending was thought-provoking I read the ebook, but this novel might be better as a physical book or audiobook, given the different kinds of media and correspondence within.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels.

Janice Hallet has become one of my favourite authors. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed her other novels and this is no different. This story is told in the form of an epistolary novel. It follows two authors who are writing books about the Alperton Angels, a cult formed by a narcissistic psychopath who reinvents himself as the archangel Gabriel and whose aim is to kill a baby he says is the anti-Christ. But, it is not that simple.

A multi-layered story told through a variety of transcribed media such as WhatsApp messages, emails, and interviews, Amanda and Oliver are researching and writing a book from two different angles. They knew each other years before and are now forced to work together as they try to find the parents and the baby who is turning 18. Whether you enjoy finding the clues to a who done it and trying to solve the mystery or you enjoy reading a good mystery, this book is for you.

I have never read Janice Hallett before this ARC; however, I will now read EVERYTHING as she just became one of my top ten reads of 2023. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a mysterious case indeed. The Alperton Angels are a cult who managed to brainwash Holly and Jonah, two teenagers, into believing that a baby was the antichrist. Eighteen years later, true crime author Amanda Bailey along with her ex-partner Oliver Menzies are now working together to find the baby and set the story straight as to what happened on the fateful night that Holly and the baby escaped leaving behind dead angels.

Written in an unconventional manner, the reader will engage with Amanda and Oliver in interviews, e-mails, and texts as they research and become the ultimate crime solvers. Twists and turns abound. The reader will have to decide which theories are true and which hold conspiracy. Who can be trusted? Were the angels really angels or simply psychopaths, scorned criminals, foolhardy men. Every page is a delight as the reader gathers evidence that can never quite be corroborated. This is truly for the fan of true crime, investigative journalism, or fans of TV shows such as Unsolved Mysteries.

As if the case of the Alperton Angels was enough of a mystery to solve. What about the secrets being kept by Olive and Amanda?! This amazing story goes on sale January 23rd, 2024 - enjoy!

Janice Hallett deftly handles the text chat, newspaper clipping, message passing format in The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. While this style can be unwieldy, the action and character development in this novel are well done. I quickly got swept up in this story about two writers chasing down a cold case story with lots and lots of missing pieces. It's not just the narrator that is unreliable here, its *all* the characters, and much of the fun is trying to tease truth from lies.

This is a great start to what I hope will be another great year of reading.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Atria Books for the chance to read this book before publication in exchange for an honest review. This was a very unique way to read a mystery/thriller with the reader reading the found footage: interview transcripts, emails, whatsapp chats and even more media. This was the first book of its kind that I read and I sped through it trying to figure out the truth. This reads like a true crime case.