I love all of Hallett's books and how all the pieces of information come together. It is amazing the story that can be told through text messages, emails, and transcribed meetings.
Such a good book!

Really enjoyed this book and the previous book from Janice Hallett I have read. The style its written in makes you feel like a part of the mystery and makes it such a fast read. There were plenty of twists and turns and a lot I was surprised by. Would definitely recommend 4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, twisty mystery that was difficult to put down. I loved the multimedia format of this one, and I look forward to going back to the author's backlist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

Amanda Bailey, a crime writer is determined to find the Alperton baby. Trouble is that the baby along with two teenagers who survived a horrific mass suicide are nowhere to be found. Social services must’ve changed their names or hidden them so far away that no one who is still alive seems to be able to help Amanda. 18 years have gone by, and Amanda is only hitting dead ends. To make matters worse her publisher wants her to work with Oliver Menzies, another writer, who Amanda has a history with, and it’s also writing a book about the same story.
Amanda and Oliver, along with Ellie (a transcriber) work together to try and find a baby. Soon though the facts don’t seem to make sense, and Amanda starts to fear for her life. What really happens all those years ago and will we ever find out what happened to the baby? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
It’s a clever way of telling the story. If you read any of the authors previous books, you know it will be told through emails, texts, interviews, and messages. I did not expect how it ended. There was quite a bit more going on than I guessed. I didn’t like it as much as The Appeal, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Janice Hallet is forever an auto buy author for me. Like The Appeal, the use of mixed media to weave a story that makes you feel like you are in the book experiencing the mystery. The puzzle solving and complexity or this book was brilliant. My attention was captured from page 1.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a gripping tale that delves into the sinister depths of a true crime mystery. This novel, written by Janice Hallett, masterfully weaves a narrative around a notorious cult and the eerie disappearance of a mother and her child. The story revolves around Amanda Bailey, a true crime author seeking to revive her career with the Alperton Angels case. The premise is not only intriguing but also highly relevant in today's world of true crime fascination.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary true crime investigation. The author keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Amanda Bailey and her rival, Oliver Menzies, are compelled to collaborate, thrust into a labyrinth of dark secrets and unexpected twists. The complexities of their partnership add an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to paint a vivid picture of the enigmatic Alperton Angels and their chilling manipulation of a vulnerable teenager. The author's portrayal of the cult's disturbing beliefs and actions is both thought-provoking and spine-tingling. Additionally, the character development of Amanda and Oliver is well-executed, making them relatable and engaging.

The gradual revelation of the Angels' secrets keeps the reader captivated, and the book masterfully blurs the line between truth and fiction. As Amanda and Oliver venture deeper into their investigation, they risk becoming entangled in the very story they seek to uncover, adding an element of danger and suspense that holds the reader's attention until the very end.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and fans of thrilling mysteries. It offers a haunting glimpse into the darker facets of human nature and the consequences of obsession. The narrative is compelling, the characters are well-drawn, and the plot is intricately layered. This book is a compelling journey into the heart of a chilling mystery that will keep readers turning pages late into the night.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett follows true crime author Amanda Bailey who is looking to revive her career by writing a book on the the Alperton Angels case. The Alperton Angels were a cult that brainwashed a teenage girl into believing her baby was the anti-Christ. When the girl came to her senses and called the police, the Angels committed suicide and mother and baby disappeared. As Amanda and her rival Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realize that the truth about the Angels is much darker and stranger than they’d ever imagined, and in pursuit of the story they risk becoming part of it. Everyone knows the story of the Alperton Angels,

I loved Janice Hallett's first novel, The Appeal, and thankfully I loved this book also. I really enjoy how Hallett is able to write epistolary novels that really make you question the characters intentions and motives. I recommend this for mystery readers!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Bailey, former aspiring journalist now with a career in true crime, has a golden opportunity to write about the Alperton Angels. The bizarre cult ended in several deaths, a leader in prison, and two teenagers and their infant vanished into the care system. Unfortunately, Amanda's old nemesis, Oliver Menzies, turns out to be hunting the same story. An modern epistolary thriller, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels unfolds in emails, WhatsApp messages, transcribed recordings, and excerpts from novels and scripts. This is a (mostly) fast-paced, twisty, and surprising novel that kept me guessing till the end.

The author, Janice Hallett, notes in her acknowledgements that the book was partially inspired by the story of Michelle McNamara, whose lifelong search for the man she dubbed the Golden State Killer ended with her premature death at the age of 46. Having read and loved I'll Be Gone in the Dark, written mostly by McNamara based on her extensive and meticulous research and completed by others after her death, I do see the parallels with Amanda's dogged pursuit of the truth at whatever cost. I also enjoyed the way the motives and actions of true crime enthusiasts, both the characters in the book and the readers themselves, are an integral part of the narrative.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

3.75 🌟 I liked this book. Just like her other books I love that you receive the information through texts, emails, interviews and other interesting ways. It kept me on the edge of my seat with twists and turns and I wasn’t ever truly sure who had done it!

Janice Hallett has done it again. If you enjoyed The Appeal, you will very likely enjoy The Alperton Angels. In this new novel, all of your favorite mixed media formats (texts, WhatsApp, e-mail, etc.) come together to tell the story of the mysterious disappearance that occurred eighteen years ago of a baby who narrowly missed being the victim of a small but deadly cult. This is a twisty tale with lots of layers. I did feel like things started to bog down in the middle and get a bit repetitive, but once you reach the end of the book, everything in the story comes together– and the payoff is completely worth it! If you like creative storytelling, mysteries, and exploring the human experience, this is must-read for you.

Impossible to put down! I spent my entire work day sneaking pages and chapters until I’d read the whole thing!
Mystery and true crime lovers this book is a must read.

Janice Hallett has done it again - in an even more detailed, layered and grand way, than her previous two novels I adored. When it’s so nuanced, the reader has a tough time with noting all the characters, the red herrings, switches and mind tricks played on her by a writer who must have post its throughout her house and all up and down her arms. Written in her now familiar way, of texts, WhatsApp messages, notes, transcriptions and some narration this is a truly complex mystery with revenge and coverups at its heart. From the beginning I was amazed, I laughed, then immediately tensed, I had a brain freeze, then a brain explosion and barely slept. Thank you!

True crime author Amanda Bailey decides to write a book covering a twenty year old cult case, becoming entangled with both the mystery surrounding the story as well as another writer researching the same topic.

Like Hallett's other books this one is told through e-mails, texts, interviews, DMs, etc. Unlike The Appeal, the plot of this novel didn't grab me or hold my attention. The group of "angels" were described as a cult when there were at most 3-4 people involved so didn't come across as super cult-like. I found the most interesting part of the book to be a personal revelation about Bailey's motives rather than the tangled true story surrounding the cult and related crimes. It's clever, but also seems like maybe it's trying too hard. Recommended for Hallett fans only.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is another mixed media mystery novel from Janice Hallett. If you have read The Appeal or The Twyford Code, this book is in that style but I found it distinct in style and much easier to get immersed in than TTC.

Told in texts, transcriptions of conversations, and novel chapters, this is the story of Amanda Bailey, a true crime author, who is investigating a cluster of cult deaths twenty years ago that also involves a missing baby. Amanda is at odds and trying to work together with another author, Oliver Menzies who is working on his own novel about the Alperton Angels.

I won't give much or anything away about this one, but I will praise how easy it was to keep reading and how steadily Hallett revealed interesting information or twists from what I was expecting as the reader. As was a frequently criticism of The Appeal, this is a long one. Other than that, I was very pleased and highly recommend it if you like her style or want to give a full mixed media novel a try.

I'm really starting to love this author's writing style! This story had a lot of moving parts and they came together beautifully at the end.

This is my first book by Janice Hallett and I’ll be honest I was not very impressed. I never felt that Hallett wrote a compelling mystery even with the great idea of a cult and a missing child. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews for Hallett but I can not echo those reviews.

Having read Hallett's two prior novel (Twyford Code and The Appeal), I was looking forward to her latest book. While the mystery aspect did not disappoint, her narrative devices have started to wear a bit thin, In this and in the Appeal (as well in the forthcoming The Christmas Appeal novella), the plot is laid out through chronological text messages, emails, and transcriptions of interviews, all about a case involving minors some eighteen years before. I've adapted to the style, but as a device, it's wearing thin. I enjoy the plot, but it is a struggle to wade through it in this writing style. I'd love it if she would write a more "traditional" prose novel next!

I’ve read 3 of Hallet’s books so far, and this one was BY FAR the best. I was on the edge of my seat and scared sh*tless at times. There were so many moving threads that became intertwined… I genuinely did not know how it was going to end. It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel that sucked me in so intensely. A delicious, fast-paced mystery novel with many twists along the way. I do wish the main character was more developed. She seemed less so in the way most other characters were.

I have been a fan of Janice Hallett since my first read of The Appeal! Since then I have devoured her books and I devoured this just the same. Ms. Hallett has a unique ability to write two cohesive stories in one. In the three books of hers that I have read, The Appeal, The Twyford Code and this one, I have had the experience of starting the book and having a certain understanding of what is happening and then Ms. Hallett is able to flip it on its head. For this book to turn from a story about a cult to a kidnapping and revenge story is marvelous and extremely impressive.

To my knowledge Ms. Hallett is the first author to consistently write in the atypical sense of only including texts, emails, and voice recordings. I believe that this allows the reader to dive deeper into the story and yet makes it easier to be blind sided when things change. The main character Amanda can easily leave certain things she learns about because we do not hear her thoughts and unless she has written it down or recorded it, the readers and Ellie have no knowledge of it. At the end of the day I believe that I could read Ms. Hallett's grocery list and be enthralled. She is consistent and truly never lets me down as a reader. I am planning on starting "The Christmas Appeal" and I expect to be just as entertained.

The queen of epistolary mysteries has done it yet again! 👏

I freaking loved The Appeal, felt lukewarm about The Twyford Code and have been eagerly awaiting Janice Hallett's next book ever since. And boy, does she not disappoint.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a multi-layered puzzle filled with intrigue and suspense. I had so much fun reading it! I even got quite scared reading it at night because of the direction I thought the book was going in.

There are lots of characters but written in a way that's not hard to keep track of. I just couldn't stop turning the pages and trying to piece everything together. The author delivers twist after twist that blew my mind, with each reveal leaving me more and more shocked 😱 Loved how everything was executed and came together too!

Like her previous two novels, this is a work of genius and creativity. How does Hallett come up with all these?! Can't wait to get my hands on her next book already!