What sets Alperton Angels apart is that it is presented completely in the form of research notes and transcripts of text messages and emails. Most of the found footage is correspondence between two true crime “journalists” who hate each other but are forced to work together as they slowly reveal new facts about a strange case.
Several people are convinced that they are angels, sent on Earth to save the world from the anti-Christ. It ends with several people dead following what appears to be a ritual, and two teenagers with a baby whisked away by social services and never heard from again.
I liked that all of this investigating was done by an unreliable narrator who clearly had no qualms about falsifying information or lying to get what she wanted. It gave an extra layer of mystery because it soon became clear that she was a pretty terrible person. I rated Alperton Angels 4 stars and it was pretty close to five! Please note: this is entirely a work of fiction, it is not a true story.
There were many twists and the ending was not a traditional mystery ending. I always enjoy it when an entire book defies expectations and has unique outcomes in a genre that sees thousands of new books published every year.
I borrowed this e-book for free using the Libby app at the Plano, TX Public Library.
Publisher’s Summary
Everyone knows the story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl into believing her baby was the anti-Christ. When the girl came to her senses and called the police, the Angels committed suicide and mother and baby disappeared.
Now, true crime author Amanda Bailey is looking to revive her career by writing a book on the case. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen; finding them will be the scoop of the year. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and also on the baby’s trail.
As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realize that the truth about the Angels is much darker and stranger than they’d ever imagined, and in pursuit of the story they risk becoming part of it.
About Janice Hallett
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is Hallett’s third full-length novel. Her first two, The Appeal and The Twyford Code, were both best sellers. Found footage thrillers are her specialty and she’s great at them! I intend to go back and read her first two novels. I love this format.
