2.5 stars -

I wanted to love this book, but it fell flat for me for a few reasons.
- It felt disjointed. Too many characters that weren't well developed enough, and too many shifting timeframes. I wish the book would have been in chronological order to make it easier to follow along.
- Did not enjoy the detective work scenes
- Finishing the book, I still felt as if I had unanswered questions.

"Growing up in a beautiful house in the English countryside, Katie Shaw lived a charmed life. At the cusp of graduation, she had big dreams, a devoted boyfriend, and a little brother she protected fiercely. Until the day a violent stranger changed the fate of her family forever. Years later, still unable to live down the guilt surrounding what happened to her brother, Chris, and now with a child of her own to protect, Katie struggles to separate the real threats from the imagined. Then she gets the phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more. Meanwhile, Detective Laurence Page is facing a particularly gruesome crime. A distinguished professor of fate and free will has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff. All the leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future."

Great storyline, took awhile to pickup, but I will still read books from this author. I give 3 stars.
Thank you Celadon books, netgalley, and the author for a chance to give my honest review.
Published Feb 28, 2023

i feel like no October is complete without an Alex North book and this year’s read was
The Angel Maker
⭐️⭐️⭐️

similar to previous books by North this read takes you through multiple POVs (friends/ family of the victims and the detective working the case) and time jumps

While I did enjoy this book, it didn’t hold up to my previous two reads of his. I felt like this stoey didn’t spend too much time on the original Angel Maker and his reason for the monstrous crimes he committed as much as his previous serial killers. It also was a little too ambiguous at times for me as well.
I wanted more about the brothers relationship while they were kids to have a better understanding of what led to their relationship as adult- while I can guess I would’ve liked a deeper look.

However, I was still shocked by certain twists that took place which made it a fast read!!!

I found this book confusing with all the storylines. I struggle to give a lot of feedback on the plot/story because of the confusion I had.

After The Whisper Man, I knew I needed more Alex North. This book kept me on my toes, being multi-POV. It had a twist of supernatural and a family theme. I found it a little hard to get into at first and then I was hooked.

2.75 ⭐️

While I enjoyed the overall mystery too this read, I was left often confused by the disjointed timeline or unsatisfied with the lack of connection to any of their characters. While I typically love a read that doesn’t follow a chronological timeline, but I found myself struggling with this one often. I especially found it hard to keep track of characters as the author regularly referred to them with differing names (switched between first and last name a lot which got especially confusing as some characters shared last names).

I also found it quite difficult to feel connected to any of these characters. I found myself not caring for any of them, which made it hard for me to truly enjoy the ending. Other than their connection to the mystery taking place, I found very little effort to make the reader understand the characters desires and motivations making them hard to care to deeply for in the height of conflict. Also, why the addition of detective Laurence Page? I feel like this character could have been completely removed from the story.

I’ll give Alex North another shot, as I have several of their books on my TBR, but this one was not for me.

Thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC of this book.

Another fantastically gripping thriller from Alex North, The Angel Maker is filled with twists and turns that are sure to delight dedicated readers.

Ok, I have finally finished and sorted my thoughts. And I really needed time to sort out my thoughts. I still stand with my initial impression that around 15%, it was just ok. It was ok even around 50% and that's because there is a lot of back story that needed laid out.

There is a passage about creating a maze around 34% in. You start by drawing a cross, adding dots in the four squares, and adding a curve on the top. You then draw a series of curling lines, connecting the dots. The sum of it is that you created what looked like a maze but it only had one single path. No places to get lost, no dead ends, no choices.

There is a passage describing a puzzle created from a family photo. Another of a painting that is made up of smaller, individual photos that create the whole. These are important. The maze and Alan Hobbes. The puzzle and Katie Shaw. The mosaic and Christopher Shaw.

This story is all that: the maze, the puzzle, and the mosaic. Yet, it is also is a twisted mass of densely woven, thorn bushes. Every time you turn the page, there is another name, a different timeline, or something going on that you feel as if you need to reboot your brain to keep up. I do suggest keeping a pencil with paper nearby so you can keep track of the timelines and people.

The pace picks up a little after 50% and takes off in the last quarter of the book. The ending feels like you are finally clawing your way out of the tangle of bushes, feeling accomplished you made it out, but not quite sure why you even went through it. But looking back, you realize you just walked out of a maze. Yep, just that crazy.

Alan Hobbes asked: If you were a father, which would you prefer? A child who always did as they were told-as you thought they should-or a child who disobeyed you and tried to forge their own path?

This is his story. Hold on tight.

This one wasn’t for me. I loved The Whisper Man and had high hopes for this newest novel. It definitely fell flat for me and I found it hard to follow the plot. I didn’t much care for the characters either. It felt hard to connect to or relate to them.

I made it about 3/4 of the way through before I DNFed. I likethedea ofthr book, but this was my least favorite of North's books (and I did not like their other books). I was not a fan of the writing style. And I don't mind a lot of things happening in books, but something about this just didn't feel right.

Gosh, the amount of twists and turns in this book! It was a bit hard to follow at times, there is a vast character list but still really enjoyed this unique storyline. This was my first Alex north and will not be my last!

I really liked Alex North's other novels, but I could not get into this one at all. It had a lot of characters and hard to follow so I decided to put it down. Thank you, publisher, for the early copy.

This book is broken into 4 parts and told in 3rd person from multiple POVs. At first the book was super confusing still very instructing. Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end!

Growing up in a beautiful house in the English countryside, Katie Shaw lived a charmed life until the day a violent stranger changed the fate of her family forever. Years later, and feeling guilty, Katie struggles to separate the real threats from the imagined. Then she gets the phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more. Meanwhile, Detective Laurence Page is facing a gruesome crime. A professor of fate and free will has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff. All the leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future.

As usual, Alex North has written a book that kept me guessing how everything would tie together! The murder mystery was there, and the characters were well written. I loved the fact that Chirs played such a large role in this book, but I didn't think Katie's daughter added much ti the storyline.

I rate this book 4 🌟

I'd like to say a huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Angel Maker tells the story of a series of unseemly events that don’t seem connected but are if you only know where to look. Katie struggles with the guilt she cares for failing to keep her estranged younger brother safe years earlier but now he’s come back into her life and needs help. Christopher’s life has been a series of ups and downs since the attack and he’s finally on the right path but something has gone terribly wrong. Detective Page has been tasked with solving the murder of an elderly man with deep connections to past tragedies and a criminal out for revenge.

This story is detailed and intricately written to keep the reader engaged and turning the pages quickly to see how all the puzzle pieces fit together. If you are looking for a spooky read this spooky season, definitely add this book to your tbr.


Thank you publishers and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was an enjoyable read. I heard so many great things about this one and was excited to get the chance to read it. This is one that had me hooked right to the very end. Recommend this one.

This story revolves around siblings, Katie and Chris, whose lives were marred by a tragic attack on Chris during their teenage years. Katie carried guilt for not being there to protect him, and this traumatic incident left lasting scars on both of them.

Detective Laurence, who was an officer at the time of Chris’s attack, finds himself in charge of investigating the brutal murder of an elderly professor. Chris is implicated as he was caught on camera at the professor’s house around the time of the murder. As the story unfolds, numerous significant characters become entangled in this murder mystery, suggesting connections between the past and the present.

The narrative prompts reflection on the idea of coincidence versus meaningful connections in life. Detective Laurence grapples with these questions while attempting to unravel the gruesome murder.

I was captivated and deeply engaged throughout the book, eager to discover how the story would unfold. The exploration of philosophical concepts was intriguing, and the clever interplay between characters added depth to the narrative.

Alex North’s storytelling prowess shines through in “The Angel Maker,” making it a compelling and unequivocal five-star read that solidifies his status as a gifted storyteller.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the author's previous books The Whisper Man and The Shadows so I anticipated a heightened level of intrigue in his third novel, “The Angel Maker.” The brief description reads: “a dark, suspenseful thriller delving into the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable sibling bond, and a notorious serial killer rumored to possess knowledge of the future.”

Where do I even begin? This book brims with complexity, making it challenging to summarize without revealing key plot points. “The Angel Maker” demands your full attention and is best devoured swiftly. I devoured about 80% of it in one sitting, and I believe I wouldn’t have savored it as much if I had taken my time.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of five characters and spans various timelines. At the story’s core is Katie, our main character. She has been estranged from her brother Chris ever since a violent attack left him scarred. Chris subsequently descended into a life of drugs, disappearing from his family’s life. His return is shrouded in mystery, only to vanish once again when his assailant is released from prison. Katie becomes convinced that this assailant is now targeting her daughter.

Intertwined with this family drama is the chilling tale of “The Angel Maker,” a serial killer who subscribes to the philosophy of determinism, which posits that humans lack free will. This philosophical element adds depth to the narrative, and I found it captivating.

Another family’s tumultuous story is introduced, and as the two family sagas intertwine, tensions rise to a boiling point. The author’s ambition shines through in this multifaceted thriller and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Angel Maker" by Alex North is a solid thriller that had me hooked from the beginning. North's writing style is smooth and engaging, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The characters are well-drawn, and I found myself invested in their stories.

The book does a great job building suspense and keeping you guessing about the mysteries at the heart of the plot. There's a nice blend of psychological tension and supernatural elements that adds an extra layer of intrigue.

One thing that kept me from giving it a full five stars is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed and left a few loose ends. I would have liked a bit more resolution in certain areas. However, overall, "Angel Maker" is a solid thriller that's well worth a read if you enjoy dark and atmospheric mysteries. I'd give it a solid four stars.

I'm so bummed I didn't like this one- I've loved his books in the past. This had so many characters that I didn't really care about any of them, and there was so much jumping around that I was confused and not enjoying the journey...