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

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What is remarkable is Hallett's ability to make her characters come alive... combined with her undoubted skill as a plotter, this places Hallett's books in the rare category of rereadable whodunnits * Telegraph * 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 * The Alperton Angels were a cult who brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her newborn baby was the anti-Christ. Three members of this cult were found dead, whilst a fourth body was found in a nearby flat. It was believed that thegirl came to her senses, called the police and The Angels committed suicide rather than stand trial. Meanwhile mother and baby disappeared into the care system. Maybe mixed media novels just aren’t really for me - I find the concept fun, but I do need to really connect with characters to love a book and this narrative style sometimes feels too distanced for me. I know that’s the point of them, especially when you’re trying to solve the puzzle, but it’s not my favourite. Nevertheless, I think this one will be well received and it was enjoyable enough to keep me reading to the end.

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.

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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.” It has taken me longer than usual to write this review because I consider this author to be very talented. I have read all her books, The Appeal took me by surprise and I became a fan, a solid five stars. With Twyford I became restless and bored at the beginning but the storyline became suddenly interesting, four stars. The book I just read was nothing like the previous books, the plot was uninteresting and repetitious with dull and unlikable characters. Angels is clever and funny, well plotted, a good twist on a conventional thriller and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Once I got started I gulped it down in three sittings. 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. 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. 😒

There’s something about this case. It burrows insidiously into your mind, then sets about changing it.” As the two journalists gather information for their books, they face contradictory evidence, baffling twists, and dead ends. For example, the number of deceased cult members after Holly escaped with the baby, the existence of satanic symbols at the death scene, a member brandishing a knife, and the more outlandish recollection that the teenage Holly escaped Gabriel's clutches in the early 1990s instead of 2003. There were also differences in reports of what police and social workers were present at the time of the Alperton deaths. Several people already interviewed or soon to be questioned have died. Is there a conspiracy, and are Amanda and Oliver in danger? From Matt Wesolowski’s Six Stories to Only Murders in the Building, fictional true crime and epistolary storytelling have become pretty popular – it might even be a movement. Do you see it that way and why do you think readers are gravitating to this and indeed to true crime? I honestly have not read a mystery/thriller this good in a LONG time. I almost NEVER rate mysteries 5 -stars. This one absolutely captivated me from the start. 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. 😔

Summary

But do we care enough about this baby? Readers presumably shouldn’t find themselves wistfully thinking, as I did once or twice: “But didn’t this all happen ages ago? Is it time to let it lie?” I think the problem is Amanda. In Hallett’s previous books, the detection of the crime – and the crimes themselves – had origins in characters we learned to care about. Here, the narrative engine is a woman whose psychotic single-mindedness is admittedly interesting, but who has no personal involvement. What’s her motivation? If she’s writing purely for gain, how much will she lose if she fails? What I most enjoyed were the passages of pastiche – especially the snatches of an airport novel called White Wings. And as ever, the author’s control of the material is masterly, the eventual solution quelling any misgivings or objections the reader may have had along the way. A tasty, if not always tasteful, tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy.

Would be a full 5 star read, but there was one part that felt a little rushed, however it's too much of a spoiler to discuss. Might just be me being sceptical, though. Everyone knows the story of the Alperton Angels: the cult-like group who were convinced one of their member's babies was the anti-Christ, and they had a divine mission to kill it - until the baby's mother, Holly, came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than go to prison, and Holly - and the baby - disappeared into the care system.

But do you know who I think are the most vulnerable? People who believe they can never be drawn in.” Michelle’s book is brilliantly written. She was an accomplished wordsmith and absolutely wrote from her heart in a way not all true crime authors do. But when you watch the documentary about her, you can see she becomes so engaged with trying to solve the case that she simply can’t write the book, yet she’s desperately trying to finish it in time for a deadline. I identified with that completely and I’m sure most writers do. Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club novels have reawakened interest in the cosier end of the crime fiction spectrum, and Hallett has been one of the chief beneficiaries; her novels, their covers adorned with the Osman-esque chunky italic lettering that publishers now use to signify “murder for pleasure”, are perfect reading for Osmanites. But although Hallett’s books are unlikely to give you nightmares, they are not insipid: they are designed to give the reader a good time, but Hallett’s idea of a good time encompasses the provoking of deep and sometimes uncomfortable thoughts. I loved the format and the whole story felt so authentic. I almost believed there was a real life case of the Alperton Angels. I think the format of the book really added to the authenticity.

After ensnaring the teenagers and convincing them that the baby was destined to doom humanity, they planned to kill the infant at the appointed time – 10 December 2003 – when five planets were due to align in a rare astral occurrence. However, despite the cult’s best laid plans, the ritual sacrifice did not go ahead as arranged, as Holly had second thoughts about the whole thing, took the baby to safety and called the police. Hallett is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. As a playwright and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard and co-wrote the feature film Retreat. Jon Creamer What it comes down to with this book is that I just had a great time while reading it. I really feel like Janice Hallett is getting better with every book. She had the puzzle element down in the first book but I didn't care about the characters or connect emotionally with the story. In her second book, The Twyford Code, I connected hard with the characters thanks to some clever twistiness and she still had the nice puzzle element, even leveled up a little. With this one she had the puzzle (leveled up again, I think), she had the characters, and for the first time the stakes were INTENSE rather than personal like in her first two books.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. 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. THE AUTHOR: Janice Hallett is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. Her enthusiasm for travel has taken her around the world several times. JS: But I’m scared because now I know all this stuff, all this information, what do I do with it? Will they come for me? I don’t know what to do. Amanda is a well-known true crime author who has been invited to write a book about the mysterious case of the Alperton Angels, a small cult which twenty years ago committed mass suicide after attempting to sacrifice an infant they believed to be the Anti-Christ. All the most sensational details you can think of attend this case, but Amanda - who has reluctantly teamed up with neurotic Oliver, a fellow author - begins to realize that the truth might still be hidden - and still dangerous.

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