This book is like one of those ambitious jigsaw puzzles with itty-bitty pieces. They're time-consuming, challenging, and you must REALLY want to see the final picture to even care enough to make it to the end. Thankfully I did care, but it wasn't an easy journey. 😂

The Angel Maker has a large cast of characters, and multiple perspectives and subplots. It's one of those "note card books" (meaning you need a note card to keep track of it all). If I hadn't been listening to this read by the PHENOMENAL Rosalie Craig (I mean, really. Out-of-this-world talent 👏🏻), I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed it *quite* as much. I tend to not want to think this hard when reading fiction 😂 -- it required a great deal of attention to detail.

Though I'm pleased to say, it was worth it in the end once the final picture revealed itself. Though this was largely due to how enjoyable the narrator made my listening experience. Well done!! 👏🏻

Definitely recommend this book in this format!

Story: 4 stars
Audiobook narration: 5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review.💕

I really, really wanted to like this one. Author Alex North has a fierce following as he's known to put out horror hit after hit. Maybe it's this hype, or maybe it's the fact this was audio rather than physical but I struggled to keep characters straight and the jumping around really added to the confusion. I so desperately wanted to like this and the ending was truly Hollywood, but the story and buildup didn't hook me as I hoped it would.

I had trouble connecting to the book. I don't know if it's just me right now or the book, but I had to restart it twice before I could get into it. Once I got into it, there where some very absorbing parts but other parts were slow and just kind of dragged. I expected much more thrills and scary stuff

I bought The Whisper Man & The Shadows with my BOTM subscription the month they were published. I’ve since passed the books to another reader even though Doctor Who (Christopher Eccleston) also read me The Whisper Man on Audible … why? 🤷🏼‍♀️

They were both good just not superb.

I didn’t plan on reading or listening to this one. I avoided the summary. I generally don’t read a book unless I’ve investigated & think I’ll love it. Who has time for mediocre books?! I read the summary and decided to take a chance on this, I just had a feeling, maybe the cover? I’m so glad I did!! I throughly enjoyed this book. I might even say it’s my favorite of the 3 I’ve read by Alex North.

Now I want a copy for my library!

The multiple time lines! The jumping back & forth slowly brings the confusing story into focus. The serial killer. The seeing into the future. Young Katie, what happened to her brother, how it affected her & is still impacting her today with her own child!! Now her brother, Christopher has gone missing!! The gruesome murder! The detective solving it all.

Ya know that feeling that you’re not sure what’s going on & you need to wait to the end to find out … not here. You get this feeling multiple times so after the first AHA moment you start paying closer attention.

I also believe the narration was the best yet! I got chills! A great creepy book! I look forward to owning a hard copy & a reread! Amazing!

Thank you Macmillan Audio & NetGalley! I will buy this book.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Celadon books for this ARC of Alex North’s, “ The Angel Maker “. This is my first book book by Alex North. It had great components, serial killer, family bonds and protectiveness, a bit of creepy and a look into the future. Wow, that’s a lot for a book. I had to get my bearings in the beginning, but once I did it was a heck of a ride from there. All I can hear now is “ Red Car “ over and over. The innocence of a child! Katie’s fierce love of Chris was the whole story in a nutshell, what you won’t do for your siblings. A mystical,magical,philosophical book I look forward to reading more of Alex North’s books. Great narration, kudos to Alex North keep the good books coming!!

While this story had plenty of twists and turns, there were so many overlapping characters and perspectives that it was challenging to keep them all straight. This audiobook required way more concentration than a typical thriller, but even then, I found myself lost at times trying to remember who was who. This book might have been better in print so I could have flipped back to refresh my memory, though I don’t know that the resolution to this thriller would be worth that amount of work.

The narrator was fantastic, but the story was so convoluted that it got in its own way.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was... wild, and I don't know how I feel about it.

The story was good. There certainly were thriller elements, family discord playing a big part, but also some interesting Fantasy notes that didn't QUITE get explained. The ending was satisfying, if telegraphed fairly early.

See, here's the problem. It was so chock full of different elements that, honestly, I lost the feed a couple times, and by the end I feel like North may have as well. There were also a few elements (one super early on) that I feel were left on the table rather than really well developed.

So for me, kind of a letdown compared to North's other books.

Still, for fans of the dark thriller subgenre, I'd say go out on a limb for it. Alex's literary voice and command of the reveal are certainly still on display here!

For audiobook listeners, the narrator was good. Not robotic, not too effusive. Right down the middle of the lane.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by Alex North. It was definitely dark, but not off putting. The question throughout the novel: would you want a son who does as they are told, or one that forges their own path? I appreciated the ending and was just left with one lingering question.

My first by Alex North and I really enjoyed it. The writing is top notch and loved the narrator!
Suspense, crime, mystery and family bonds drive the narrative. Interesting and engaging. I will definitely read another by the author. Well done!
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

It was alright, just pleasant enough to listen, but a bit boring at times. The narrators were fine, I liked them. This was my first book by the author and I'm not sure if I'll come back for more.

This will likely be an unpopular opinion.
This was not my favorite North book. I felt very lost/bored at times. I knew it would all come back around.

Level set expectations that this is not so much an edge of your seat. I also struggled with the narrators and how the chapters changed.

Thank you for the opportunity to review.

this was a solid mystery that kept me guessing. I wish that there had been more distinction in the narrators voice for each POV.

I really wanted to love this one. I've read his previous books and had high hopes for The Angel Maker, but it missed the mark with me. Perhaps it was because it was an audiobook, so at some future date I'll try again with a paper copy. For me the issue was the very....slow.....burn. Too slow. It started out great, but then I found my mind wandering and that's why I'm thinking a paper copy would allow me to set the pace and that might have kept me interested.

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for allow me to listen to this audio arc

The Angel Maker was a pretty enjoyable listen. I enjoyed the multiple points of view and the shifting timelines. I liked the unraveling family drama and it was a very tense listen.

The Angel Maker
Thank you to @celdaonbooks for my #gifted copy and thank you to @macmillianaudio for my gifted ALC. This book publishes February 28.

This was my first book of 2023! I really wanted to like this one. I enjoyed Alex North's previous two books but this one just wasn't a win for me. I listened to the audio book and this was a very, very slow burn. This may be the type of book where a physical copy would keep me more engaged, interested, and less confused! When it finally got interesting, I really had lost interest and wasn't very connected to the characters.

The good stuff:
This was a well crafted psychological suspense
Very atmospheric read
Great family drama that you uncover as the story progresses
Dual timelines and multiple POVs

The not so great stuff
There are too many perspectives and it's easy to lose track of everyone
The narrator honestly was tough to follow and connect with and I restarted the audio and there were a few chapters I had to back up.
Confusing plot lines that are also dark and intense

I really wanted to love this one - I loved the Whisper Man - however this one left me a bit wanting. The premise is built over multiple perspectives. I truly wanted more of the serial killer viewpoint - but that was not to be. Instead I got the slow building impression that I was trying to be deceived. There were red herrings all around that were unnecessary - and in my opinion they detracted from the book. It left me feeling uninterested and uninspired, and I just wanted resolution. I may try this one again at a later date - hoping it was just my mood. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

This book was exactly what I expected from Alex North; another well-crafted mystery with a very creepy bent.

I really enjoy North's ability to put together a dynamic case with an unsettling villain. I very much appreciate the ability to investigate the case without being an overbearing police procedural without having the story bogged down by the nitty gritty of the investigation. Still, it's not the fastest moving book, so if you're dead set on a page turner this probably isn't your thing. That being said, if you've read North before you know that the slow burn is well worth it and what it lacks in speed it makes up for in creep. Highly recommended!

“Red car, Mommy! red car.” This sentence had me cringing throughout the entire book.
🚗
When Katie was younger she made the decision to not walk her younger brother home from school. She wanted to spend time with her boyfriend. Something happens to her little brother Christopher. Michael Hyde drove a red car and attacked Christopher. Their lives changed forever.
🚗
As an adult Katie’s young daughter sees a red car and the way she says this frightens her. Turns out Christopher is now missing. Is her daughter next?
🚗
An edge of your seat novel. Many lives are changed forever!

Thank you @celadon, @netgalley, @macmillianaudio, for this advanced audio which comes out Feb 28, 2023.

Kate Shaw grew up in a beautiful home in England. She seemed to have everything going for her, until right before high school graduation, her title brother was brutally attacked. Years later, and now with her own child to protect, Kate struggles with the guilt of what happened to her brother. One day, her brother goes missing right around the time a distinguished professor is brutally murdered. All leads point back to Christopher’s case and a serial killer who supposedly could see the future.

I really wanted to love this one, as I read so many positive reviews, but it was just too much of a slow burn for me. Perhaps if it picked up a bit, I would have enjoyed it because it really was a unique idea for a story. I listened to it on audio.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio, Netgalley and Alex North for the ALC! This book releases February 28th.

Alex North is one of the most phenomenal thriller writers. He has a way of absolutely creeping his readers out! However, this one was not my favorite. (The Whisper Man is still superior!) This book had a lot going on and at times I was confused. It didn't feel like it flowed. Also, it gets a little paranormal which was not my favorite aspect. However, I did not figure out the big twist and that's always a huge win for me. I liked the multiple timelines. I'd definitely recommend it to other readers.