The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a gripping tale that delves into the sinister depths of a true crime mystery. This novel, written by Janice Hallett, masterfully weaves a narrative around a notorious cult and the eerie disappearance of a mother and her child. The story revolves around Amanda Bailey, a true crime author seeking to revive her career with the Alperton Angels case. The premise is not only intriguing but also highly relevant in today's world of true crime fascination.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary true crime investigation. The author keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Amanda Bailey and her rival, Oliver Menzies, are compelled to collaborate, thrust into a labyrinth of dark secrets and unexpected twists. The complexities of their partnership add an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to paint a vivid picture of the enigmatic Alperton Angels and their chilling manipulation of a vulnerable teenager. The author's portrayal of the cult's disturbing beliefs and actions is both thought-provoking and spine-tingling. Additionally, the character development of Amanda and Oliver is well-executed, making them relatable and engaging.

The gradual revelation of the Angels' secrets keeps the reader captivated, and the book masterfully blurs the line between truth and fiction. As Amanda and Oliver venture deeper into their investigation, they risk becoming entangled in the very story they seek to uncover, adding an element of danger and suspense that holds the reader's attention until the very end.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and fans of thrilling mysteries. It offers a haunting glimpse into the darker facets of human nature and the consequences of obsession. The narrative is compelling, the characters are well-drawn, and the plot is intricately layered. This book is a compelling journey into the heart of a chilling mystery that will keep readers turning pages late into the night. ( )

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett is a fun mystery for those who enjoy doing some of the work when reading.

I enjoy dossier novels for exactly the reason Sarah Link mentions when describing them: "This formal setup contributes immensely to portraying the act of detection as a process and casting the reader as detective. The often fragmented and partial documents and files invite the reader to perform acts of comparing and cross-referencing in order to reconstruct the plot and extract meaning from them." Rather than follow behind the detective (used broadly, whether a police detective, an investigative journalist, a private investigator, or high school kids solving crimes) in a novel and try to figure it out ahead of her, we become the detective and can no longer rely on what the detective deduces to guide us.

Because of the extra work involved, this approach doesn't appeal to all readers. Additionally a reader has to be in the right frame of mind to read this kind of novel. This is a type that might be best put aside until someone wants to do the work. There aren't a lot of true dossier novels, but there have been enough to make this a category, over at least the last 150 years or so. Most novels that use files and documents usually use them interspersed between a standard narrative structure.

Rather than get a narrator's voice, we get snippets or none at all. In this novel we get quite a few snippets, though how Amanda comes across is dependent on the format and/or the purpose. But it is still enough to get an idea of who she is and the reader can form an opinion of her. We even get some feel for a couple of the other characters and what they are like.

While I loved the format and the writing, there were a few places where I questioned how realistic (within the world of the work) a person's actions were. That probably lowered my overall enjoyment a bit because it took me away from thinking about what the details of the case were. That said, and based on other reader's comments, I plan to find Hallett's other novels and read them. Though I think I will opt for paper versions so I can jump around and annotate the text more easily.

I would highly recommend this to readers who like sharing more of the workload in both advancing the plot and solving the mystery. I would also suggest that if it doesn't appeal to you initially, put it aside for a while until you think you might be in the mood for a close and detailed reading.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss. ( )

"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?"

True Crime writer Amanda Bailey has been commissioned to write a book on the eighteen-year-old case of the Alperton Angels – a cult led by “Gabriel”, presently incarcerated, three members of which were found dead (apparent ritualistic suicide) in an abandoned warehouse in Alperton, a suburb of northwest London. Another murder, a presumed ritualistic killing committed by Gabriel also figures in the list of crimes. Two surviving members, Jonah and Holly, both teenagers and their baby have withdrawn from the public eye since then. Gabriel, their charismatic leader had convinced them that they were angels in human form and the child was the Antichrist. Holly was instrumental in protecting the child from harm and in the process exposed the members of the group. Amanda’s research includes studying existing documentation, tapping into her sources contacting law enforcement officers, hospital staff and social workers who interacted with the members, attempting to interview anyone and everyone linked to the case including Gabriel and tracking down the survivors including the child who would now be eighteen years old and from whose perspective Amanda’s book is to be based. Complicating things further is the fact that fellow writer Oliver Menzies is also working on a similar book commissioned by another publishing house. Forced to collaborate, but unable to trust one another (there is history here, and it's not pleasant!), they race to uncover the truth behind the story of the Alperton Angels. Assisted by Ellie Cooper, who is helping in transcribing the interviews and phone conversations, Amanda is determined, perceptive and fearless, committed to getting to the bottom of things. But there are forces at play that don’t want them to succeed and people who would go to any length to make sure that the secrets surrounding the case stay buried.

Presented through a series of email correspondence, WhatsApp messages, letters, transcripts of interviews and phone conversations, and excerpts from fiction inspired by the Alperton Angels case and other documents, the narrative hooks you in from the very first page. To say that the plot is complex would be an understatement. The twists and turns and the direction the narrative ultimately took left my head spinning. There are more than a few characters to keep track of which adds to the confusion and the pace does waver in parts, but the author cleverly weaves a gripping tale that keeps you guessing, topping it off with an ending that you do not see coming. This book requires a bit of patience (and maybe a bit of notetaking to keep track of who’s who) but it is definitely worth the effort and time invested. With an intriguing premise, clever plotting and an engaging narrative, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett is a thoroughly satisfying read. ( )

Janie Hallett’s previous two novels deftly toyed with formats. The Appeal took the form of a file of papers passed to two paralegals to review the background of a case in which their firm is involved. The papers were revealed in such a way that it was not immediately clear what the crime had been, or who the victim and alleged perpetrator were. Her second novel was The Twyford Code, which took the form of a series of transcripts of voice notes and messages left by the protagonist as he appeared to revisit a bizarre event from his youth.

In The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, Ms Hallett takes the epistolary novel to new lengths, presenting the reader with a sheaf of emails, WhatsApp exchanges, text messages and transcriptions from conversations recorded on mobile phones. The principal character is a journalist attempting to write a true crime book about a case twenty years ago in which three people (presumed to have been members of a local cult were found dead in Alperton. A fourth body was found in a nearby flat. At the time, two young members of the cult were ‘rescued’, along with a baby, who was taken up by the social services care system. The writer is convinced that the key to unravelling the mystery, and thus ensuring the success of her book, is to find the identities of the baby (now – hopefully – grown to adulthood) and the two survivors. Her quest is complicated when, as a consequence of changes within the publishing world, she finds that she has to work with a fellow journalist who is also hoping to write a book on the subject.

The drip of information is excellently managed, and the tension grows throughout the book. The story is bizarre, but at no stage does it strike the reader as implausible. Hallett’s ear for conversations is sharp, and the tone of the exchanges between the various contributes to the sheaf of papers is always spot on. ( )

Janice Hallett excels at using emails, transcripts, and other similar devices to tell her innovative stories. I enjoyed The Appeal and The Twyford Code, and now the queen of the quirky format is back with her third book, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels.

The book begins with a dilemma. There is a key to a safe deposit box which contains the research material carried out by Amanda Bailey for her book about the Alperton Angels. By the end of the book, a decision must be made. Should the material be buried or handed over to the police? Amanda is a true crime writer researching the Alperton Angels which is a well-known case about a cult who made a teenage girl believe her baby was the anti-Christ and that the baby must be killed.

Luckily for the reader, Amanda is diligent about recording and transcribing EVERYTHING to do with her research which means we get to see it from all angles: her formal requests for information, the way she tries to wheedle details from former associates (methods which sometimes felt a bit grubby), conversations and texts between her and her rival author, Oliver, and so on. Hallett does a brilliant job of making it seamless and not forced. I will say that I found it quite complicated at times and if it wasn't fiction then I would have had to make copious notes, but it's also a very easy book to be swept along with and to just enjoy as a piece of VERY creative writing.

I'm not generally a fan of books made up completely of letters, emails etc but Hallett has nailed it once again and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. ( )