Thank you Atria Books, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: January 23, 2024
Summary:
Everyone knows the story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who 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.
Now, true crime author Amanda Bailey is looking to revive her career by writing a book on the case. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen; finding them will be the scoop of the year. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and also on the baby’s trail.
As Amanda and 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.
My thoughts:
I am a big fan of Janice Hallett’s books, having read both The Appeal and The Christmas Appeal. I was excited to get my hands on her latest book and it most definitely did not disappoint!
What I love most about this author’s writing is the unique format she uses to tell her story. She really has mastered the use of mixed media in telling her story, using emails, WhatsApp messages, transcripts of interviews, text messages and more to tell what I can only say is one brilliantly crafted crime story that kept me completely engaged and guessing all the way through. I loved the cult elements that the author wove into this one and I loved how we got to see how easily people can be pulled in.
This is the type of story that is so complex and layered that at times, I didn’t know who I could trust. Slowly, the layers are peeled back and I was definitely shocked a few times, which I loved. The twists and turns this one takes are at times subtle and so you need to be paying attention. I also loved that underlying theme of being careful of who you place your trust in when it comes to what you read online that ran throughout the book.
I cannot recommend this one enough! I have loved all the books I’ve read by Janice Hallett so far and the only one I haven’t read, The Twyford Code, I plan to read soon. And I’m excited that I will be meeting Janice in April at the Hamptons Whodunit Mystery and Crime Festival!!!
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