*NetGalley review*

This was my first Alex North book and I've heard such great things, but I was disappointed with The Angel Maker. There was too much going on and too many characters to keep track of as well as too many events and what I think was meant to be twists. I'm still not totally sure what Michael Hyde's purpose was overall in the story; it seemed like an unnecessary addition. While it did pick up the speed at about the 60% mark, I had a hard time keeping everything straight and often had to go back to the character's previous chapter to see what was going on. There was a lot of family drama in this one and I'm glad most of it was resolved, but this one fell short for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Alex North, and MacMillan Audio for the chance to listen to this one in exchange for an honest review.

Usually I love Alex North novels, but this was my first DNF of the year. I tried multiple times to get into this one and just couldn’t. Too slow, not enough action or drama, and not an interesting storyline for me.

This one was a DNF for me. Disconnected, choppy, slow and lacked the suspense I enjoy with a thriller.

I have loved past Alex North books and this is no exception. The narrator added to the horror of this story.

Alex North always finds a way to take tropes from horrors/thrillers and make them fresh. I would say this is no exception, but it was kind of hard to follow on audio. The connections between characters were unexpected and imaginative—keeping the characters straight took a lot of work, however.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC of The Angel Maker! All opinions in this review are my own.

The Angel Maker was offered to me by the publisher and not necessarily one I would have picked out for myself. I have heard great things about North's other books, The Whisper Man and The Shadows, but they seemed too creepy for me.

While I'm not disappointed that I gave The Angel Maker a try, it was definitely much darker than I normally read. I listened to it and found it difficult at times to keep the story straight, especially when it came to how characters were connected. Overall, it was a decent dark thriller, but I don't think this author is for me!

Thanks so much to the author, Celadon Books, and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy of this book, as well as to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audio copy, in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } My reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW: death/murder, stalking, violence, death/injury to children

Oh my gosh, I listened to this book on audio and it was slightly terrifying! I couldn't stop listening to it and almost listened to it all in one go, just because I needed to know how it ended and what happened next.

There are multiple stories and timelines going on in this book - there is the past with two young siblings being raised by a religious serial killer who believes everything is fated and pre-written in a diary for him; there is the more recent past with two young siblings that experience a great trauma in the form of an attack on the brother; and then there is the present, where the police are investigating a strange death that may link the two other storylines together.

This book was really well written and had me invested basically from the first page, and the narration on the audiobook was amazing! The narrator really captured every emotion, and absolutely added to the horror and terrifying atmosphere of the book. I think that it is absolutely worthwhile to read the book in this format.

Overall I would absolutely recommend this book to my friends and fellow readers - but I would definitely recommend looking at the trigger warnings before reading this book, as it is pretty intense at times. I think that the perfect way to read this book would be inside on a grey and stormy day, under a blanket, and with a very large glass of red wine. Maybe even next to a roaring fire, to add to the ambiance and make it feel like a real ghost story!

I’m usually a big fan of Alex North but this audiobook didn’t work for me. I found it very hard to pay attention and would become confused about who is who. I’d like to say I’ll try a physical copy of the book but I’m not sure I’m that invested in the story anymore. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of those book reviews that I have trouble writing. A book that I'd really looked forward to reading, from an author I've enjoyed before, ends up being a book I did like well enough, but just didn't love - but I can't quite figure out why I didn't love it. This is a book that takes focus - it jumps back and forth both in time and in perspective. And I suspect the stuff of daily life got in the way of my completely engaging when I listened to this book. It's dark and twisty, with a serial killer with a really messed up mind, all elements I usually love, but something just didn't completely gel with me on this one. I suspect if I gave it another try I'd enjoy it more - and recommend anyone considering it to give it a go when you can really focus on it. I will say that it wasn't an issue with the narration, which was quite well done by Rosalie Craig.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

I really liked this story but I think for an audiobook it was harder to follow along because of all the characters. The narrator did a great job and Alex's writing was great. I just found it hard to keep track of everyone and who is who.

Alex North’s writing is complex and beautiful. I absolutely love how he weaves his stories together. Every little thread has a place to make up the bigger picture.

I really enjoyed Angel Maker. I found the character work complex and addictive. I wanted to know where all these stories connected. I loved how everything played out in the end. It was beautiful done. The audiobook was a fantastic listen. The narrator did a fantastic job telling the story.

My only complaint was this book felt hard to get into. I didn’t find myself really into the story until about 45% through. Then the action picked up and felt like a race against the clock. So just know it’s a little bit of a slow burn in the beginning but definitely worth it in the end.

Overall I really enjoyed this book like I do most of Alex North’s work. I will continue to pick up his books. I just love how complex his writing style is. If you are into thrillers with multiple povs and timelines I would highly recommend this book to you.
3.5/5 Stars

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

What a mess. DNF @ 40%

It started off intriguing and had my interest but it went completely off the rails and became incredibly hard to follow. It wasn't the narrator's fault at all, but it would have benefited from a full cast narration to keep track of characters better instead of having to constantly rewind to figure it out.

Ultimately, I just couldn't spend anymore time on this one.

Alex North asks the question of what would you do if you could change the future of not only yourself but other as well:

Katie Shaw has always been told by her parents that she needs to take care of her younger brother Chris, but on whim as a teenager she decides to do the opposite of what is expected of her and leaves her younger brother to walk home alone. This choice changes everything in both her and Chris' life as Chris is a victim of a random attack. Many years later Katie still struggles with the guilt of that day, even though Katie has lost contact with Chris she receives a phone call that he is missing and in trouble. Meanwhile Det. Laurence Page is investigating a gruesome and confusing death of a professor who taught about fate and free will. This murder leads back two historical cases, the attack on Chris and a Serial Killer.

This is, shockingly, the first book that I have read by North. I am not sure why I have not picked up his previous books, especially the Whisper Man, that was making the rounds a few years ago, but I think it was one of those things where i will get to it eventually.

This book was book was good, just good. I can say that I was expecting more from North with just how popular his books have gotten since 2019 and i was let down a bit. I thought this book was going to have a darker and skirting horror feel to it based upon some of the reviews I had read about the book. I don’t really think there are truly any that disturbing parts, as North never really goes into detail of what goes into making an Angel. Really the whole Angel part of the plot is more of something more of a side plot that is never fully explored and really this is not a fast-paced book, so suspense/thills aspects are lost due to it. It really is a slow burn throughout, there is no real drama or that much sense of urgency by the end, as everything comes together, makes sense and it is rare for an author not to take the easy way out.

My favourite aspect of this book is the complexity of the plot and how it was planned out and put together. North has the plot lines and people intersecting throughout the book and even throughout time. I cannot fault North for his ability to tell a story, but this is one that you will need to keep track of everything from the multiple POV and shifts in time as well.

The knowing the future aspect / word of God is downplayed for the most part as the events have already been written there is not much emphasis put on this point other than coveting the book that holds the information. And i feel like there was a opportunity lost here.

So, this book was good but not great in my opinion, as I had higher expectations for this book. However, North's ability to tell a story is on full show here and due to that fact, I would read another book by him.

Enjoy!!!

Alan Hobbes is a philosophy professor who has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff, which he already knew would happen.

There were so many great characters and I loved all of the inner workings of the plot. The audiobook was a great addition to the mystery of the story too.

*many thanks to Celadon and Macmillan Audio/Netgalley for the gifted copy

Whew. That was a lot. Audio narration was great but the pace & initial storyline was brutal to get through. Ultimately was glad I finished. I would recommend his others over this one.

I made it about 71% into the book and had to give up. There was nothing that was keeping me hooked and it jumped around so much that I was a tad confused at what was happening. Sadly I will be DNFing this book.

2.5 but rounding down.

What started out as an intriguing tangle of puzzle pieces became an unsatisfying mess. Such a strong start with lots of mystery and intrigue but unfortunately the several plot points were either unresolved or sloppily thrown together. There were more holes in this book than Swiss cheese. There was little to no character development or growth causing the story and its characters to fall a bit flat. The action scenes were very enjoyable, filled with vivid language and heart-pounding suspense. Was also let down that the most intriguing aspect of the book for me was glossed over and never fully explained. The ending left me feeling incredibly disappointed and frustrated, leaving me with almost as many questions as when the book started. I enjoy Alex North’s creepy, suspenseful writing style, but sadly this one wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Alex North, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was quite the melting pot of mysteries. So many storylines that I felt it got a little lost. Hard to tell which resolution was which by the end.

Alex North writes the BEST scary stories. I received an ARC of the audiobook version of this one, so that fact may affect some of my review. I have a hard time getting into it, mostly because I was so so confused right away. There were so many different tangents that didn't seem possible would tie together. There were lots of jumps between setting and time. If I were to have read this as a physical book, I feel it would have helped me be able to go back and reread things, but since I listened as an audiobook, I felt lost. Despite this, once I figured everything out, I absolutely loved this one. Not quite as good as the Whisper Man, but better than The Shadows. My recommendation is to read this one, preferably during spooky season, and push through the confusion, because it's worth it.

(3.5⭐️) Many thanks to my partners @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.

This was my first book by North, and I went in expecting to be <fully> spooked. Unfortunately, I think I came away more confused than anything else.

A serial killer. A philosophical conundrum over fate. Two things I love. One of my friends told me that this storyline had the makings of a perfect read for me. And she was right! The premise of this book is diabolical and thought provoking.

And yet. Was it the large cast of characters penned with broad strokes? Was it the muddled transitions between POV? I flew through the 30-40% eager to watch the unfolding. But somewhere along the way the plotline started lacking and confusion began to set in.

For me, the nail in the coffin was the HUGE plot hole in the ending. (I asked numerous friends that I know are close readers… none of them could answer the gaping, central-to-the-story question.)

I can see where North’s writing draws people in, and I’m definitely going to give The Whisper Man a go. But unfortunately, my first foray into North’s portfolio was a miss.

🎧 The audiobook narration by Rosalie Craig quickly pulled me into the storyline. Her nuance and tone were pitch perfect for the suspense. But, I often found myself confused unless I had the physical book in hand. (To be fair: I often was confused even with the physical copy.)