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

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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, and the truth is something much darker and stranger than they'd ever imagined. And not only that, then have the protagonist, herself, outline every detail that led to the sudden unexpected twist of the matter made the entire present story line all feel for naught. Granted, there may have been signs here and there that I should have suspected all was not right in Amanda's motives, but it just seemed like such an unnecessary tactic, and just shifted the focus entirely from the current mystery at hand, to a whole other plot device. And that's really the moment my excitement fizzled out - when the ending - while unexpected - was not what I even realized was in the realm of possibilities. 😔

There was something very captivating about their dynamic - there was a deep-seated enmity between the two - an unspoken challenge that while they were both vying for the covetous position of being the first to break the story - it never let on that there was something more lurking beneath their conversations - some hidden agenda that was taking root of which the readers were bereft to. And I think, that's what made my mood suddenly plummet towards the end of the novel. 😒And yet, who knows? Maybe, that was the true intention of this story all along - as it's so graciously pointed out at the end - 'a cautionary tale' so to speak to all those, who don't look beyond their own machinations that eventually lead to their downfall. So, while I was a bit miffed by that message, I still believe it was worth the read - I did enjoy it. 👍🏻 It was almost as if I was watching a movie - that's how entertaining it was and kept my attention and interest to find out the truth for myself. 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. Nope, no happy ending here. Not for your brain either because that's just going to explode into such a big pile of mush that you'll forget your own name. It’s dark and creepy in places, but also really witty and humorous in others. I wasn’t expecting to be so drawn in but I loved how the tension gradually built. The plot was well paced and I felt like I raced through the book. Amanda Bailey is writing the book nearly two decades later. The mysterious Alperton baby will now be 18 and can finally be interviewed. Amanda is determined to find the baby before anyone else, hoping that the exclusive scoop will revive her struggling career.

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. I'm agog at the skill with which Hallett uses her unconventional storytelling method, not just in unfolding the plot and springing surprises, but in building up memorable characters. Character and plot, wit and creepiness, are all in perfect balance. It's another resounding success * Daily Express *

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I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a couple of times when I thought there might be one too many different types of material but they're all totally relevant. Of course you won't know that till the end, which I didn't see coming at all. Great twist. In fact there's several great twists. There’s something about this case. It burrows insidiously into your mind, then sets about changing it.” I thought it was great how Janice Hallett managed to make her characters so distinct although all we had to go on were messages and conversations. Very cleverly done.

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? It’s safe to say I loved this book. It was clever, ambitious and so incredibly gripping. I now can’t wait to read Janice Hallett’s previous novels. You may also be interested in: 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. True-crime author Amanda Bailey is attempting to write a book about a twenty year old mysterious case, known as the Alperton Angels. THAT ENDING. I'm pretty sure my jaw is still hanging on the floor. There was NO WAY I could of guessed the ending but OH HOW IT WORKED.True crime-auteur Amanda Bailey krijgt de opdracht om een boek te schrijven over het mysterie rond de Alperton Angels-sekte. Achttien jaar geleden vielen er in één nacht vier doden, werd de sekteleider opgepakt en verdwenen twee tieners met een baby, maar niemand weet wat precies heeft geleid tot de fatale gebeurtenissen en van de verdwenen personen ontbreekt nog altijd ieder spoor. Amanda is slim, doortastend, brutaal en vastberaden om eindelijk antwoorden te vinden op onbeantwoorde vragen, en om dat doel te bereiken hoopt ze de baby te vinden, of in ieder geval de tieners, en zo haar verhaal vanuit een uniek perspectief op te bouwen. Het is een ambitieus plan, en wanneer ze wordt gedwongen om samen te werken met een collega-journalist, iemand die haar in het verleden pijn heeft gedaan, wordt de zoektocht naar de waarheid steeds gecompliceerder. 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. 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. And the devilish story of the Alperton Angels is far from over... So many writers have inspired me: Cervantes, Thomas Hardy, Emily Bronte, Agatha Christie, Enid Blyton, Patricia Leitch, Douglas Adams… and that’s only a few.

Janice Hallett says “I am beyond thrilled to be working with Phil Temple, Birdie Pictures and STUDIOCANAL to bring The Mysterious Case of The Alperton Angels to the screen. Phil’s expertise in, and enthusiasm for original storytelling will deliver this vivid and surprising tale to a wide TV audience. I am so proud to be a part of his new company’s first screen project.” What are the advantages and disadvantages to you as an author, or to the reader, of telling a story in this way? Inside is a bundle of documents, archived research material for a book that has just been published. True-crime author Amanda Bailey knows all about the notorious Alperton Angels cult. There have been dozens of books and films about the Angels, ever since the night nearly two decades ago, when they attempted to sacrifice a baby they believed to be the Antichrist. DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

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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. In the face of coincidence and unexplained phenomena we are all at the mercy of our own thought processes.”