I love the way Janice’s books flow. I love that she adds the elements of text messages, emails, phone calls, etc. the breakdown of solving her character's mysteries in her books has it's own unique code. It appeals to my detective Spider-Man senses and sucks me in.
Amanda is a true crime writer with a DON'T ever take no for an answer attitude. I loved her.
The story begins twenty years ago when three people (presumed to have been members of a local cult were found dead in Alperton. A fourth body was found in a nearby flat. At the time, two young members of the cult were ‘rescued,’ along with a baby, who was taken up by the social services care system.
Amanda is hell-bent on finding that baby. And taking her rival Oliver out. Does she?

What a delightful new work from Janice Hallett! In the Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, an old culty case is revisited for Amanda Bailey’s upcoming book. A keen journalist with a difficult past, Bailey is determined to produce the first true crime bestseller on the strange Alperton Angels, a religious cult that died by suicide after failing to eliminate the AntiChrist. Challenges arise immediately, with few leads and Bailey's old professional nemesis taking on a his own project on the same case. Hallett's signature multimedia style is elevated again in this one, as she takes on even more types of communication to relay the story - using newspaper clippings, WhatsApp messages, emails, and even scraps of discovered notes. Twisty and compulsively readable, this is a fun campy thriller that will keep you guessing to the end.

I loved Janice Hallett's previous books--The Appeal and The Twyford Code--and couldn't wait to read The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. It did not disappoint! The Alperton Angels tells the story of a "cold case" that involved the deaths of several members of a cult. Interest is sparked in the true crime community as a baby who was rescued from the cult is now turning 18. Two writers (and frenemies) are set to pen updates to the story.

The book is told in Hallett's trademark style, through a series of interview transcripts, emails, WhatsApp messages, and other types of communications, which makes for a really fun read. Although the switch between the various sources is necessarily a little disjointed, the story flows really well, and you get a surprisingly good feel for the personalities of the characters--not just what they're like now, but how they got to this point.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review!

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels has what I like to call the Janice Hallett unique plot. How her mind works is amazing! It has all the components of her previous books including the unusual writing form, this one is in email, phone, message and transcription form. It leads the reader through the intricate details of the suspenseful storyline only to surprise them with an extraordinary ending.

This story revolves around a religious cult back in 2003 called the Alperton Angels, named after the town they lived. The cult included teenagers, a baby, its leader and followers. Back then in the basement of a warehouse four bodies were found. It was ruled a mass suicide of the cult. Gabriel the leader was found guilty of murder and put away for life. The teenagers Holly and Jacob and the baby (which the cult believed to be the anti-Christ) disappeared and have not been heard from since the night of the massacre.

It is now eighteen years since the incident and the mysterious baby would be of legal age. Crime writer Amanda Bailey has a new idea for a book. She informs her publisher she would like to look into the old case and try and find out what happened to Holly and Jacob, but more importantly what ever happened to the baby. Although a few books have been written about the cult and the incidents which occurred in the warehouse, no one at least to Amanda's knowledge has tried to find the baby.

But she is in for a shock. Her publisher comes back to her and says it's a great idea but another writer, Oliver Menzies is working on a story with another publisher, so if they share notes it could work. Amanda unfortunately knows Oliver from years ago and doesn't really think very highly of him but, if that's the only way to research the story, she'll suck up her feelings and go with it.

So, Amanda, Oliver and Ellie Cooper (the transcriber of all the interviews) begin their search. But what they soon find is those involved in the case all those years ago have very different memories of what happened. They also find some of the people closely associated with the investigation at the time or those who were investigating the investigation have died. Some it seems by accident.

As Amanda and Oliver try to one up each other on what information they have been finding out (or hiding from the other) Oliver begins to have a bit of a breakdown of sorts after his prison visit to interview the mysterious cult leader, Gabriel. But neither can find any information on the baby. All this leads to more questions than answers.

Then Amanda catches a break and finds she is close to perhaps finding the baby. But the closer she gets, the more danger she believes she's in. With Oliver hot on her trail, she needs to be the first to break this wide open. Who is this mysterious baby once accused of being the anti-Christ? How are Holly and Jacob really involved in what happened all those years ago. Will WE ever find out what happened!

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is another Hallett triumph in both imagination and suspense. It will hook you from the beginning, reel you in and throw you back so fast your head will spin. And you will love every minute!

Thank you #NetGalley #Viper #Janice Hallett #TheCaseoftheAlpertonAngels for the advanced copy.

I raced through this book, I loved the email,text and transcribed conversations format that make up the book. Solving the many contradictions of the case pits the spiritual/supernatural vs. a conspiracy. The author is not afraid to go there with extreme outcomes for our characters.
If you a reading an e-book version of this book make sure your ereader can show the emojis that come up. They add a lot of humor to the texts and emails. ( The kindle app on my iPad showed these but they didn’t show on my kindle itself ( my kindle is admittedly a few years old. I don’t know about newer models))

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this e arc.

Wow, this is a wild book! I've read Ms. Hallett's two previous novels and was very excited about this one because I was certain it would be an inventive and twisty tale and it did not disappoint. The subject matter — a cult who plans to murder a baby because it's the anitchrist — is dark stuff but because it's so dark and weird it ratchets up the suspense and the stakes of the story.

As with her other books, this one doesn't use traditional narrative prose but transcripts, text messages, emails and scripts to piece together the mystery. it's a very creative way for a story to unfold and while there is a lot to sort through it really puts you at the heart of the investigation as Amanda, the author of the booking within a book, uncovers the truth.

At multiple points as information was uncovered I gasped audibly. It's quite a ride and very enjoyable.

Oh my goodness I loved this book so much! I had read "The Appeal" and was very eager for more of her work, and this one did not let me down. I am a huge fan of the epistolary novel style, and I like how she writes with an edge of humor, even if it is ultimately a rather dark story. I've already shouted this one out on a few of my social media channels, so hopefully it's inspired more people to preorder it and pick up her past books.

Once again Janice Hallett does it again! My only complaint which is what made this a r star instead of a 5 star was the inclusion of the book pages.

I found them unnecessary. And I ended up skimming them. I don't feel they added anything to the book that I personally needed for the story.

Other than that this was an amazing and quick read because you get so immersed into the story.

thanks to netgallery & atria for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

this is a very high quality mystery book. the story and characters are all fleshed out well, and the unique concept the story being told through emails, texts, transcripts, etc. make this book stand out among its peers. i also do believe it would be possible to figure out the mystery before the characters - something that's becoming increasingly rare in the mystery genre. my one main critique would be that many characters play confusingly similar roles, and sometimes former background characters would come back into the spotlight and i would have no memory of who they were. i think potentially a character list would help, but these problems didn't impact my reading in any substantial way that decreased my enjoyment of the book.
i also thoroughly enjoyed amanda and oliver's characters throughout the entire work, and as i am personally interested in psychology, i found the book's handling of cult mindsets and characterization to be accurate and interesting to me. i would definitely read it again, and i applaud janice hallett for her continued high quality work.

“Open the safe deposit box. Inside you will find research material for a true crime book. You must read the documents, then make a decision. Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police?”

Janice Hallett’s books are truly unlike any thing else. All of her books are epistolary novels - including her newest - and it means you as the reader get to sift through material and pick up clues on your own.

THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS follows a case of a cult like group who were convinced one of their member's babies was the anti-Christ, and they had a divine mission to kill it. The baby’s mother thankfully saved the baby and the Angels committed suicide rather than go to prison.

Two decades later, true crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the case. The baby has turned eighteen and Amanda is desperate to find them to get in the inside story.

You are given all of Amanda’s materials: whatsapps, interview transcripts, emails, and research material. You have to figure out what happened 🕵🏻‍♀️

Read this if you like:
🧐mysteries
😇cults
📧epistolary novels
📚THE APPEAL or THE TWYFORD CODE

Janice Hallett's "The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels" invites readers into a labyrinthine world of intrigue and secrets, crafting an immersive narrative that beckons from the shadows and demands attention. With an ingenious use of the dossier format, Hallett constructs a narrative mosaic that tantalizes the intellect and ignites the imagination.

From the initial keystrokes, Hallett plunges her audience headfirst into a realm where truth is a mirage and reality is a puzzle waiting to be assembled. Through a medley of voices and mediums – from emails to interviews – the story unfolds with an air of authenticity that brings readers face to face with the enigmatic characters and their labyrinthine motives.

At the core of this enigma lies a mystery shrouded in the shadows of a forgotten cult, a triple suicide, and the eerie presence of the Angel Gabriel. Hallett weaves her threads with meticulous precision, scattering breadcrumbs that lead to revelations and twists that propel the narrative forward. Her adroit handling of diverse voices, including the relentless true-crime author Amanda Bailey and her insightful assistant Ellie Cooper, adds layers to the narrative, painting a rich tapestry of perspectives that enrich the reader's journey.

The narrative's true brilliance lies in Hallett's masterful orchestration of the narrative's ebb and flow. As readers plunge deeper into the abyss of the cult's unsettling practices and the search for a vanished child, an insatiable curiosity takes root, compelling the reader to journey onward. The enigma surrounding Amanda Bailey's motivations adds a touch of enigmatic allure, making her pursuit of the truth a tantalizing odyssey.

"The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels" pays homage to the art of storytelling through its eclectic mix of documents and voices, adding a contemporary flair to a classic form. Hallett's meticulous crafting of pastiche moments, coupled with her consummate control of the narrative's tempo, ensures that readers are entranced until the final crescendo.

In an era where narratives manifest in myriad forms, Janice Hallett's opus emerges as a beacon of narrative innovation. This labyrinthine tale of secrets, cults, and unrelenting tenacity is a treasure trove for aficionados of mystery, offering a cerebral delight that keeps readers in suspense until the final revelation.

I’m not going to lie… I absolutely LOVE epistolary novels. You know how when your best friend thinks her new partner might actually already have a spouse and you take it upon yourself to scour the internet and find the truth? Janice Hallett’s books will give you the same rush, and you won’t have to do any ‘catfishing’ or deep deep dives through 15 years of Facebook and Twitter posts to get it.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is the third book I’ve read by Hallet and while I would rank the other two slightly higher on a favorites list, it’s still a solid 5 stars. Definitely an auto-buy author!!

Free eARC provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes!

I thoroughly enjoy everything I've ever read by Janice Hallet. I love the way she builds a mystery, the atmosphere, the "found-footage" style made up of texts, emails, transcriptions, and other documents. I liked this one not as much as The Appeal, but more than The Twyfor Code. Our protagonist, true crime writer Amanda Baliey, is not very likable- through her emails and texts, you can see that she's willing to go to any end to find out information for her story. Amanda is also forced to collaborate with a rival writer, Oliver Menzies, and they work together and against each other to discover what happened to the infamous Alperton baby, the survivor (along with its teenage parents) of a suicide cult that had planned to sacrifice the baby as the Antichrist, 18 years after the events occurred.

I would recommend this book to fans of mysterys, cults, people who enjoyed I'll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara. The singular issue I had was that, reading this on my kindle, the emojis in the text messages did not show up, which may have caused a slight loss in tone among some characters. Overall, the mystery is good and twisty and unravels well to a satisfying conclusion!

Janice Hallett's books are always a joy to read. I love the fact that the author makes you think and does not dumb down everything for their readers. I understand that some readers would prefer everything explained to them however.

This one does not disappoint. Told through mix-media, the story gets the reader to feel that they are involved in solving it.

This was my first novel by Janice Hallett, and this book is told entirely through mixed media which is her trademark style. This book was fast-paced, twisty, and carefully planned. Plus, anything about cults is an auto buy for me. You had to pay careful attention to uncover all of the clues trickled throughout the novel that I felt tied up all neatly together at the end. This is not a casual novel that you can read without paying close attention, but I think that is what makes it special.

The one downfall for me is that you do not get as emotionally attached to the main characters when the story is told through mixed media, so some of the final twists did not have that same gut punch as when the story is told through the eyes of the main character. And, the motives of the main character did not become clear to me until the conclusion of the novel. However, I really enjoyed this novel and it kept me on my toes.


Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

This one gets a little confusing at time, lots of names and name changes, and a little convoluted. But I like the way the story is told. Similar in style to The Appeal, the story unfolds in correspondence. Which is a clever way to hide identities and motivations.

A couple things I suspected, in regards to Amanda herself, but the rest of the story was harder to piece together. I really had no idea where it was going until the end. A fun little puzzle to solve.

4 stars!

I look forward to reading Janice Hallett's thrillers every year because every time I think they are completely unique and always told in a fun mixed media format. This book was no different! I was wholly engrossed in the mystery. I loved the premise that the reader has a key to a safety deposit box that has research documents outlining a true crime event, and I thought the cult aspect the whole novel was set around was also super interesting. So excited to read what Hallett writes next year!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Unfortunately a DNF. I find it really hard to be engaged in stories when they're primarily written in "tech" format (emails, texts, chats), it just causes too much jumping around for my taste, and doesn't draw me into the story. Maybe better in audio format?

"Take away talk of angels and demons and you're left with a very depressing but nonetheless run-of-the-mill story."

What's being embellished about one night 18 years ago and what's true? "People look at the same thing but see it differently." What lens are we seeing events through? Even communication between Amanda and Oliver has meaning between the lines, but how do we interpret it? I was constantly trying to be skeptical while I tore through this book, consisting mainly of text messages, emails and transcriptions of interviews.

Journalist Amanda Bailey has been tasked with writing a book about the Alperton Angels and finding the baby born while its mother was part of the cult back in the early 2000's. (I was at first expecting a giant cult but it turns out there are only the angels and two "suckers" but I guess that can still be defined as a cult.) Amanda ends up working with her former colleague Oliver Menzies, who becomes more and more obsessed with the story as things progress.

I don't want to give much away but this is a RIDE. My only complaint was that things were pretty confusing and I went back and reread some of the book once I knew how things turned out. Not too much of a problem with such a clever book but I had a hard time with piecing all of it together and I kind of wish there was more resolution with certain characters. Otherwise it was a great read and I couldn't put it down.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Ms. Hallett for the chance to read and review this. I'll read anything Ms. Hallett writes; each book is its own creative endeavor.

Thank goodness, this was far better than The Twyford Code - but still implausible. Especially the unbelievably quiet and easily pacified BABY. Was it drugged? I can't think of any other way to keep it from bawling in many situations. I also did not enjoy the creepy supernatural angle, even though it was explained away in the end. (Not really a spoiler, I think you could see that coming.) Still, it had some interesting twists on the theme "Don’t believe what you’re told just because you trust the person telling you." A compulsive read!