The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: the Bestselling Richard & Judy Book Club Pick

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The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: the Bestselling Richard & Judy Book Club Pick

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: the Bestselling Richard & Judy Book Club Pick

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A unique and completely immersive novel about manipulation, and seeking the truth at all costs. An absolute triumph in storytelling -- L.V. Matthews, author of THE TWINS Inside is a bundle of documents, archived research material for a book that has just been published. Everyone knows the story of the Alperton Angels: the 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 - until the baby's mother, Holly, came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than go to prison, and Holly - and the baby - disappeared into the care system. I absolutely loved it. A brilliantly crafted proper mystery, I couldn't put it down -- Lisa Hall, author of THE PARTY If you enjoyed both The Appeal and The Twyford Code then I’m sure you will really enjoy this one too. It was cleverly done, and had a good ending, but I just never found myself fully invested. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that we don’t really get a huge feel for the main characters as people, but I just didn’t find myself caring, which then leads me to not feel engaged with the novel as a whole.

I genuinely don't know how Janice Hallett does it. The detail, the plot twists, the humour, even in dark places - she creates a brilliant puzzle for the reader to solve. I loved it -- Victoria Scott, author of PATIENCEAs 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. There’s something about this case. It burrows insidiously into your mind, then sets about changing it.” Because of the format used, it's very drawn out, there's no clear storyline and a confusing multitude of characters, and I use this word loosely as we never actually meet any of them, who may or may not reappear later in the book.

This was unfortunately just ok for me. I really enjoyed The Appeal and have been chasing that feeling with Hallett’s other two books and they just haven’t lived up to her debut for me. With Angels we have the notes, interviews, texts, news reports and extracts from other playwrights/authors who have all been intrigued by a decades old mystery involving a cult called The Alperton Angels and its ensuing cover up (or not). JS: No, I can’t. I can’t sleep. I stayed up really late last night because I just needed to know what happened. And if I didn’t find out what happened I wouldn’t have been able to sleep either. And then I was getting these palpitations because I couldn’t read it fast enough. WHAT SHOULD I DO?! stars HANDS DOWN. Did I immediately buy every single one of Hallett's books? Yes I did. This is in the top 3 mysteries I have read in the last 5 years for sure. I will be recommending this book to everyone and will be screaming from the rooftops about it.Just like the Twyford Code, this book isn't written in a regular chapter format and just as well. It is clever and intriguing, and I loved every minute of it. Greatly recommended ! It has taken me longer than usual to write this review because I consider this author to be very talented. I have read all her books, The Appeal took me by surprise and I became a fan, a solid five stars. With Twyford I became restless and bored at the beginning but the storyline became suddenly interesting, four stars. The book I just read was nothing like the previous books, the plot was uninteresting and repetitious with dull and unlikable characters. This is my second Janice Hallett book. While I've read plenty of epistolary works before, this author's trademark is to notch things a bit higher, entangling the reader as deep in the mystery as possible, encouraging them to really root through the clues for the truth. I definitely understand what she's doing - I'm just not sure still if I prefer it! JS: But I’m scared because now I know all this stuff, all this information, what do I do with it? Will they come for me? I don’t know what to do. In the face of coincidence and unexplained phenomena we are all at the mercy of our own thought processes.”

A clever, complex epistolary novel with explores our fascination with true crime, cults and storytelling itself -- Brian McGilloway, author of GALLOWS LANE If you're still here, I'm not gonna say you made the wrong decision, but . . . just kidding. Maybe you need more info. The premise here is that an investigative journalist is writing a book about an infamous cult murder/suicide that took place about eighteen years before. The Alperton Angels, as the cult members were called, believed that a specific baby was the Antichrist and were getting ready to sacrifice said baby when a police raid interrupted them. All of the cult members killed themselves, and the baby was taken into custody. But now in present day, the baby is eighteen years old and available to interview, if it can be found. Our journalist MC, Amanda, is determined to find the baby and break open the Alperton Angels case in a new way, making a name for herself. But do we care enough about this baby? Readers presumably shouldn’t find themselves wistfully thinking, as I did once or twice: “But didn’t this all happen ages ago? Is it time to let it lie?” I think the problem is Amanda. In Hallett’s previous books, the detection of the crime – and the crimes themselves – had origins in characters we learned to care about. Here, the narrative engine is a woman whose psychotic single-mindedness is admittedly interesting, but who has no personal involvement. What’s her motivation? If she’s writing purely for gain, how much will she lose if she fails? What I most enjoyed were the passages of pastiche – especially the snatches of an airport novel called White Wings. And as ever, the author’s control of the material is masterly, the eventual solution quelling any misgivings or objections the reader may have had along the way. After ensnaring the teenagers and convincing them that the baby was destined to doom humanity, they planned to kill the infant at the appointed time – 10 December 2003 – when five planets were due to align in a rare astral occurrence. However, despite the cult’s best laid plans, the ritual sacrifice did not go ahead as arranged, as Holly had second thoughts about the whole thing, took the baby to safety and called the police. Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed - if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby's trail.My final opinion? Hallett is a good read for the puzzles - but as I am not really a puzzle person, she is simply not a good fit for me!

Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed; if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby's trail. The queen of the narrative twist. She takes the conventions of the modern mystery novel and upends them as Christie did. And the themes of this book are haunting -- S.J. Bennett, author of THE WINDSOR KNOT ABOUT 'THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS': 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?There are several mysteries in the book: the main one - the cold case of the Alperton Angels, which Amanda is investigating; the box with all her research printed out (who printed it and why); Amanda and Oliver's history. All of this made for a very gripping story, as it was all slowly revealed.



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