
Member Reviews

This was gifted by Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Janice Hallett back at it again with a new thriller. This time we must open the safe deposit box in which contains material for a new true crime book? What should you do with these documents? Will you take them to law-enforcement or will you destroy them? Everyone knows the story of this cult like group that were convinced the antichrist was living among them and they had one mission which was to kill that person. Only that plan was ruined by one of the mothers who called the police, that mother and her baby strangely disappeared. Now it’s decades later, and a true crime author is writing a book all about the events that happened. The famous baby is an adult and can finally be interviewed to tell their side of the story. However, there’s another person who’s trying to get the real story of what happened in this group, and so the two journalists begin fighting for the real story. However, the truth is much more than they could bargained for.
This author always makes great books that keep you very engaged. It feels as though you’re actually part of the investigation you get a lot of mixed media aspects in here, which I really enjoy. I think that pretty much anybody could pick up one of the authors books any of the authors books and enjoy them. This one seemed to be darker than some of her other books tend to go, so just check out trigger warnings. If this is something that you want to read even if you don’t use this book, I think that the author makes books that are easily digestible for most people.

I love a book where I don't guess the ending. I'm an experienced -- maybe a little jaded -- thriller reader, which means I usually see the resolution coming from miles away. In "The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels," Janice Hallett managed to lay out every single clue, yet still blew me away with an ending I never could have guessed. Told in her traditional style of mixed media, emails, texts, and other pieced-together clues, this book was the return to form I was looking for after not loving "The Twyford Code." Alpterton felt much more like "The Appeal" to me, but also managed to somehow be completely different in all the best ways. I loved the characters, and I loved having the things I thought I knew about them completely erased and replaced the further I got into the book. A well-earned five stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
I am an avid reader of "found footage" books and films, and Janice Hallett is a master in using this unique way to tell a story. This is my third book of hers that I've read and she is a must buy author of mine. This book doesn't disappoint.
Amanda Bailey is true crime writer. She is researching an intriguing crime that occurred twenty years ago and the anniversary is coming up. The crime includes angels, demons, an Antichrist baby that was secreted away. No one knows the baby's identity and where it ended up and this is the hook for her book. She pairs up with another journalist that she used to work with (and caused her great harm during her first internship) to help her find this baby that was taken into care and lost to the public. The twists and turns this mystery takes, all told through email, text messages, pages of sensational novels and plays written about the Alperton Angels, phone calls and meeting transcriptions, is mesmerizing.
I savored all the strands of this story and literally raced to the ending. Another 5-star read by Janice Hallett.
Did I mention I need another book by this author as soon as possible?

Even with the shocking unveiling, it took far too long to get to the point and I got kind of bored. <spoiler>I didn't like that Amanda and Oliver both got killed. By whom? Was it set up by Don and Georgina? Was Jonah the mad squaddie? Did Ellie have anything to do with it, did she tell Don that that's where they were going and she took the money Georgina offered to Amanda for keeping the real facts out of the book? Where did the white feathers come from? Did Marie-Claire and her special forces unit kill the other people that got too close to the truth? They must have and that's also why Amanda and Oliver got killed.</spoiler> IDK I just feel duped. There were too many questions at the end.

Yet another clever mystery from Janice Hallett. THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE APLERTON ANGELS is an engaging read - even if it doesn’t quite measure up to her previous two.
The reader is given the same sorts of evidence as her previous books, with a collection of found documents (WhatsApp messages, emails, newspaper clippings, etc) replacing a traditional narrative. (It feels a bit like a game which is honestly very, very fun!) This book is all about cults and the personalities that are both drawn to them and lead them. (Huge appreciation to Hallett for citing Amanda Montell’s CULTISH because it’s a stellar read.)
While it’s interesting, the characters fall flat and parts of the plot feel rushed - more telling, not enough showing. It was still a thoroughly enjoyable read but I didn’t close the book struck by how creative it was, or what a story she was able to craft.
If you’ve enjoyed Hallett’s previous books, I recommend this one too but I also don’t think it’s a must read. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my entirely honest review.

This is a novel about a true crime writer and her investigations into the deaths of the Alperton Angels some years earlier. The Angels were a cult like group who considered themselves to be heaven sent and who were planning to destroy a baby whom they considered to be the AntiChrist. The novel consists of notes and copies of conversations that were recorded. At times it was confusing as to whom she was interviewing. It was engrossing and certainly captured the reader’s interest. Thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for an ARC for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC.
Janice Hallet has such a clever way of telling stories and drawing a reader into the world. You will not know what’s going on until the end.

"Funny, the closer you get, the further away you are."
If you haven't picked up a Janice Hallett story, YOU NEED TO! The books area always an experience. They are puzzles - where you are given pieces through text messages, emails, phone call and recording transcriptions and other unique items. You don't just read the story, you are fully immersed and you are tasked with solving the mystery.
This is my 3rd read from this author and I've loved every one. In this one, you are along for the ride as a journalist, Amanda, researches an old case for a new true crime book. A story about a gruesome night when the police stumbled on a girl covered in blood with a baby in a bag and a building of dead bodies in what looks like a ritualistic cult suicide.
I loved the characters in the story. You wouldn't think you'd get to know them so well but you do because you see their little chat exchanges and little messages. You see the ups and downs of the research as well as the dead ends. You see strings and you wait for Amanda to link them to a conclusion. You are just as much a part of the team as Ellie, her transcriber, is. As the story shaped it's self around 50%, I was completely sucked in and was not stopping until I knew the answers. I loved the twists, never guessed the turns, and am amazed at how well crafted the reveals and ending were. I love that I'm done but sad I don't have another of Janice Hallett to immediately start reading. I'll definitely be looking for her next release!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book

If you like to piece together mysteries and read through secret files to uncover the truth, then this book is for you. It did a great job at slowly feeding you information to uncover the mystery of the Alperton Angels.
I really enjoyed my read and it gave an awesome perspective on cults and the judicial system. Nicely done.

I have to say this is my favorite book I read in August. I could hardly put it down but I had to sleep. I love how Janice Hallett draws me into the world and keeps me there. I feel like I am reading all the documents along with everyone else. It also made me feel like this was a real case that I need to look up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for letting me give my honest review.

I loved the way this book started out but the second half went downhill for me. I thought it was too long and didn't;t feel the ending worked.

Wonderful mystery with all the twists and turns you hope for. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and pulls you in to every word in hopes you’ll uncover something that might be important later in the book. As always with Janice Hallett’s books, the ending is satisfying and shocking. Definitely recommend!

I love the unique formats Hallett writes in so I knew I had to pick this one up! The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is told through WhatsApp message exchanges, transcribed interviews, and a script. It leaves the reader trying to figure out what they believe to be the truth at the same time the journalist is researching the case. I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to see what Janice Hallett comes up with next!

Janice Hallett is a master at weaving together a clever and engaging plot, and this one had me gripped from the start. Darker than The Appeal but told in a similar way through evidence rather than narration, it's another mystery thriller than I just couldn't take my eyes off!
Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

Janice Hallett has easily become an auto-buy author for me. I picked up her first book on a whim and have now AFC read two of her books. I find her writing unique and her story telling utterly captivating.
From the moment you pick up one of her works you're in her clutches until you get to the last page.
This one had me in a chokehold. I was enthralled from reading the preview until the last pages. I read every single page including the authors note and acknowledgements.
The premise of this one is so ingenious. You're given a key to a sage deposit box which contains interviews and transcripts and letters and messages from a stubborn will find the answer to the story even of it kills her author. Once you read it all, you'll have a decision to make...lock it back up and walk away or turn it over to the police. What would you choose to do?
Amanda is researching the mysterious case of the Alperton Angels. Facts don't line up. People are dying. The narcissistic cult leader is in prison. And three individuals key to the case are gone. As the story unravels, whose recollection can you trust? Is there supernatural occurrences here? Is this a big conspiracy? Are people lying and if so, why? How far will Amanda go for her new book?
This is yet again, a 5 star read for me. I can't wait to see what Janice offers up to us next.

I'm so disappointed and frustrated. I loved The Appeal, and was so excited to get an ARC for this book. Unfortunately, it just lacks the same spark. For one, we're stuck with basically just one point of view character and she's awful. Normally I'm down for a deliciously hate-able character, but she's too boring to properly hate. And the case itself just isn't intriguing at all. In a mystery, the number one thing I need from the plot is intrigue. I have to want to solve the case, and that just isn't there.
In deference to the author who did give me one book I liked, I will not be posting a review on goodreads. Here's hoping her future works are more my taste.

This book was okay. I was a passionate fan of the author’s previous books, but I just couldn’t quite get into this one. It was harder for me to keep track of the characters and the revelations along the way just didn’t keep my interest. I’m excited to see the author’s next book because although I didn’t like this one, I still enjoy her style.

Pros: Janice Hallett is one of my new favorite authors, and I have read all four of her books. Her storytelling is inventive with the use of emails, text messages, transcripts, newspaper articles and more to unfold the mystery. I liked this book’s use of a true crime journalist as the main character and found the focus on a religious cult to be interesting.
Cons: This is really not a con, but this is my least favorite of the author’s books. The Appeal being so fantastic makes me go into her newer books with very high expectations, which I know is unfair.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read this book.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me preview The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't sure what to expect as this was my first experience with Hallett's writing, and I'm not usually a fan of the "found footage" style. However, I was very quickly drawn into the mystery and found the book flowed very well.
All the action is laid out in texts, emails, and interview transcripts from our narrator, true crime writer Amanda Bailey along with pages from books and scripts she's using to research her new book. I was surprised at how well I got to know Amanda, her transcriber/assistant Ellie, and her rival writer Oliver through their correspondence.
The case unfolds slowly, and you never quite know who is hiding what in their interactions with Amanda. I didn't see the ending coming, so kudos to Janet Hallett for all the surprises! I won't go further into the details because I don't want to ruin the journey for any future readers. This was my first book by Hallett, but it won't be my last.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s previous novel The Appeal. When I saw this was written in a similar style, I was excited. I love the storyline. Who doesn’t love a good cult mystery? There were times I found the flow of the story slow or repetitive, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Interesting ending that tied everything together. Definitely worth the read