This is the latest from Janice Hallett, once again she gives us her modern trademark style of mystery that involves the reader, here the premise is that you are in possession of a key to a safety box, full of a true crime book research documents, and you can either read it all and lock it back into the box or you could read it and place it in the hands of the police. As usual, this is a complex, deceptive and twisted narrative that incorporates and draws on numerous sources, such as newspaper articles, transcribed interviews, phone calls, WhatsApp, emails, and conversations. True crime writer Amanda Bailey is hoping to breath life back into her flagging career with a spectacular exclusive, she is planning to re-examine a well known historic case.

The Alperton Angels were a cult led by Gabriel, now in prison, planning to kill a baby thought to be the Anti-Christ, fortunately this does not come to pass as the teenage mother, Holly, flees the cult, but the Angels go on to commit suicide rather than face prison. Amanda is now looking to find, identify and interview that baby, now 18 years old, she is an experienced and manipulative investigator and unearths a raft of contradictory evidence, is there a natural human explanation for this or is there something more sinister at play? Additionally she has unwelcome competition in the form of Oliver Menzies chasing the same scoop, and with whom she has a traumatic past history. Amanda is put in a position where she is having to accept that she has to work with him. Follow the clues in this smart, multilayered and intelligent mystery, with its elements of the supernatural, to the surprising final reveal.

I think fans of the author are likely to love this, familiar as they are with the author's style of storytelling, and readers new to Hallett may enjoy this too. It is a fun, entertaining, dark, disturbing, and humorous on occasion, but it does require patience and paying attention to detail to follow the many threads and all the twists and turns on the path to uncovering the truth. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Janice Hallett really is the Queen of the complex, deceptive mystery unwrapped through unconventional and very modern storytelling. She pays the reader the compliment of assuming they have the intelligence and empathy to read between the lines, and that makes for a thrilling and satisfying read. Here the narrative centres on Amanda, a true crime author tasked with a new look at an old, sensational case involving a cult who believed they were angels on earth, and had recruited a young couple whose baby they believed to be the antichrist who must be destroyed. The couple had escaped, provoking a joint suicide among the remaining cult members, and as the baby would now be 18, Amanda determines to find it and hear its take on events. She is also forced to work alongside her former nemesis and arch rival, who was responsible for a traumatic string of events which had almost destroyed Amanda’s life when they were students. As she pieces together information through text messages, emails and interviews with anyone involved in the case, assisted by various amateur enthusiasts and utilising previous written versions, a different story begins to emerge, which is darker and more disturbing than the one which became so famous. It is great fun trying to work out what really happened, and Amanda herself is intriguing, demonstrating a flair for hard-nosed investigation and shamelessly manipulating her sources, but her own tragedy also becomes evident. Hallett’s trademark black humour is in full swing, but there are alsomoments of genuine horror as the truth emerges. Anyone who hasn’t read her first two books, seek them out immediately- this is a very talented author at the top of her game.

Thank you to the netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. An enjoyable and additive novel, with all the twists you would expect from a Hallett novel.

I really enjoyed this one. Janice Hallett is very clever and the way her stories are told always hooks me in. This one was fabulous and has peaked my interest into true crime stories. Absolutely brilliant. Extremely intelligent writing. Loved it.

Very lucky to have been the recipient of some advanced reader copies lately that I am VERY excited about and if this first one is to go by then wow I can't wait to get reading the rest!

'The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels' by Janice Hallett tells the story of the famous Alperton Angels, a cult who were convinced that they were angels, protecting the world from the anti-christ. Unfortunately things don't go quite as planned in their eyes and the Angels commit suicide rather than go to prison, leaving two children who came to their senses about the cult at the last moment and the baby who was saved from being sacrificed. Almost two decades later true-crime writer Amanda Bailey is writing a book in the year the baby turns 18, the interview would be the scoop that her career requires, if only she could located where the baby now is and it's identity...

Following on from the unique writing style of Hallett's from The Appeal and The Twyford Code, this latest title is told through the means of emails, text messages, What'sApp's, chapter drafts - such a clever format and I always enjoy how the story comes to life alongside assembling all the clues along the way. The ending could never have been predicted and I am still thinking about how that twist came out of nowhere - it is a book that will keep you analysing what happened and the secrets uncovered (or rather concealed) long after you have closed the book. Another great read from Janice Hallett and I am already looking forward to the next one!

Everyone knows the sad story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her newborn baby was the anti-Christ. Believing they had a divine mission to kill the infant, they were only stopped when the girl came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than stand trial, while mother and baby disappeared into the care system.

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.

As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The truth is something much darker and stranger than they'd ever imagined. And the story of the Alperton Angels is far from over..

Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail/Viper/Profile Books
I just reviewed The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett. #TheMysteriousCaseoftheAlpertonAngels #NetGalley

I was a massive fan of The Appeal, but really struggled with The Twyford Code, so I was intrigued to find out more about the Alperton Angels. Overall, I’d put this latest effort in between the two previous books: not as thrilling and engaging as The Appeal but much better than Twyford.
Janice Hallett’s use of mixed media to tell the story is really interesting, and something that I really enjoyed in The Appeal. We meet a true crime writer, Amanda Bailey, who is researching (and struggling with) a story she’s been approached to write about – and we see the lengths she’s willing to go to get the inside scoop.
I quite liked Amanda to begin with – the way she approaches each text/email/conversation is quite amusing in places, and her frustration really comes through. However, as the book progressed, I didn’t feel it was going anywhere significant. The use of different methods of communication (especially the scripts) became a bit boring and didn’t hold my interest. The subject matter is really disturbing in places and, whilst I’m not overly sensitive, I did find myself wondering what would happen if elements of the story had happened in real life – would we be as willing to ‘cheer on’ a writer who is doggedly determined to find the answers, even when there are very vulnerable victims involved.
I think another problem was the formatting issues with the book – I wondered if anyone had checked it before it was sent out. Several lines of texts throughout the book were seemingly attributed to the wrong person, and that made it hard to keep up.
All in all, a much stronger story than Twyford, but it left me wondering if more whimsical stories are better for Hallett.

I cheered very loudly when I discovered I was lucky enough to receive a preview copy of this utterly brilliant book as I absolutely loved Ms Hallett’s first two books. They are the books I’ve gifted most to others over the last few years.
Similar to her previous novels, we again become detectives to try and figure out what is real and what is not through a very unique style of delivery via transcribed what’s app messages and emails.
I’m a huge mystery/crime fiction fan, but often my enjoyment of it is spoilt as I spend the whole time trying to figure out the red herrings and denouement – entirely my own fault I know as I perceive myself as something of an inferior Marple. The most pleasurable and ingenious thing about all three of Janice Hallett’s books are that this is exactly the reason they are written the way they are – the reader becomes the detective and is rewarded by spending time flicking back and forth making notes trying to figure out the puzzle (or is that just me??).
I absolutely loved it. Read it!

I absolutely loved Janice Hallett's debut, The Appeal but wasn't so keen on the follow up The Twyford Code so was interested to read this. her third novel.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels starts out well. As with the author's previous novels it's written in an original format and the mystery element is intriguing and compelling. Almost 20 years after the case of the Alperton Angels, true crime writer Amanda Bailey is researching a book on the case and hoping to finally track down the Alperton baby.
It's an intricately plotted and original novel, darker in its theme than her previous two novels. However, for me, sadly, the novel got lost under the format which is very difficult to read on a kindle. The novel is told in the form of transcripts, emails and other forms of electronic communication. This meant the font size kept changing, it was difficult to keep track of who was messaging who and the novel lost pace for me, as I wasn't able to immerse myself in it. I'd recommend reading in book format or give it a go if you are happy to navigate this format on a kindle.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Hallett does it again - her mysteries are always engrossing and twisting this was no exception. The most disturbing of the books I've read of hers, I did struggle slightly with the ebook layout, but found myself speeding through as I couldn't wait to find out what happened.

I loved the Appeal, I wasn’t a fan of the Twyford Code but I still couldn’t wait to get my hands on her new novel.

The Alperton Angels is written in the same format as the Appeal, with correspondence between Amanda Bailey and the people she is reaching out to, whilst writing a book about what happened to the baby taken into care following the suicide of the Angels. There are also sections from 'novels' and 'play scripts' she reads during her research.

I feel it’s her best book yet! Because of the format it is written in it can be a bit hard to follow at times on an electronic device. As such, I recommend you buying the real item when it’s available in January.
Thank you to NetGalley and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, Viper for the advanced copy. It really is a phenomenal read!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The only review I can give this is that I'm currently writing this at 1am after finishing one of the best mysteries of the year. Exhausted, exhilarated, disturbed, and satisfied in equal measure. Janice Hallett is one of the strongest and most consistent new voices in mystery writing and someone whose books I will always look forward to.

Well, janice Hallett has done it again! Queen of the complex, fascinating and utterly perplexing crime whodunnit, she finds a way to be fascinating and utterly original in every book she writes. Complete page turner - bring on the next one!

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Thanks to Netgalley and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books.


Set as a true crime writer tries to solve a cold case. You are drawn into the story with WhatsApp and text messages/emails between characters with lots of twists and turns as to who did what and when, you will be left up till the end to discover if Gabriel can convince a small group that he is an archangel and therefore his bidding must be done or whether angels are real.
Underneath all this is was a crime being committed? If so who and why are they doing it.
A very well researched book which had me hooked quite early on and I was convinced I knew what /who the angels were.

When true crime author Amanda Bailey is looking for inspiration and something to save her flagging career, she turns to the tale of the Alperton Angels a cult that 20 years previously has tired to kill a baby believing that it was the Anti-Christ. The baby was placed in care and has now turned 18 so Amanda is trying to track all involved to get the story of the year…..
Janice Hallett has written a fantastically intricate plot with her usual use of email, txt and voice recorded transcripts!!! It is a page turner with such well observed characters. I couldn’t put it down.

This is my third Janice Hallett novel and now I'm waiting for number four. I loved The Appeal, not so much The Twyford Code, but this new one is another five-star read. Once again, the novel is made up of emails, WhatsApp messages, texts, transcripts, and sections from 'novels' and 'play scripts'. Everything designed to keep the reader alert. Amanda Bailey is a writer of true crime fiction and for her latest book she is researching the Alperton Angels. This was a group - a cult - who eighteen years previously, under the leadership of Gabriel, who convinced two vulnerable teenagers that they were angels and that he and his followers were archangels. He also convinced them that their child was the antichrist and as such needed to be destroyed when the planets were aligned. The child and the teenagers survived, Gabriel was jailed for life and the followers died in a murder suicide. Now that the 'baby' is eighteen, Amanda plans to track it down and write about the events from his/her perspective. What follows are the emails to contacts as she tries to find the adult teenagers and the eighteen-year-old 'baby' and the responses she receives. We also have transcripts of recorded meetings and telephone conversations brilliantly written by her assistant, Ellie, whose little asides are brilliant. However, when Amanda finds that her nemesis, Oliver, is also planning to produce a similar book for a rival publisher, she finds that she is forced - by her own publisher - to work with him so that the two books can be complimentary rather than competing.
As a reader, you follow the clues and what we get is not just a story of the Alperton Angels, we also get a story of manipulation, deception and rivalry, and, there are also hints of the unexplained as well as lots of twists and turns. A brilliantly enjoyable read

A thrilling mystery that draws you in. Janice Hallett writes in such a way that you are immediately emersed in the story.

We follow Amanda and Oliver as they compete to uncover exactly what happened on the night of the apparent Alperton Angels suicide.

The book explores themes such as jeleousy, teen runaways, coercive control and murder/suicide with ease. It's also highlights the price that can be payed if you stop at nothing to reach a goal without heeding any warnings.

Definitely a must read!

I loved The Appeal and The Twyford Code and I couldn't wait to read Janice's latest novel. I was not disappointed! What an absolutely clever and addictive novel this is! I was hooked from the very start and again loved the very different format that the book was written in. Janice is certainly writing masterclasses in mystery-writing and I cannot wait to read more by her! A thrilling, multi-layered and hugely fascinating novel. Thank you so much to Viper for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this.

Another masterpiece by the incredible Janice Hallett!

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels takes Amanda and Oliver, journalists investigating a crime that happened years previously, and tells the story of their research.

Hallett has such a way of drawing you in to a story with many different strands that come together so neatly and perfectly at the conclusion. Even when sometimes I was thinking 'what on earth is this?' a few chapters later my mind would be blown as it was explained.

Brilliant. And I'm already excited for her next book!!

I should probably start this by saying I also loved the appeal and the twyford code but I really loved this one. It’s the story of Amanda Bailey who is writing a true crime novel and it’s written as a series of transcripts, pages from a book/ play, messages like her other books. All I can say without ruining it for you is that this book made me feel like a detective: picking up on all the little clues and trying to piece it all together!
Read through netgalley but would have purchased and I bought the last two of her books with my own money.