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karenleagermain's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I love audio books, but I usually choose non-fiction. I was under the false assumption that a fiction audio book might be challenging to follow. I dipped my toes in and gave The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels a go.
I was hooked right away!
The audio book has a large cast making it easy to follow with the different voices. It was similar to listening to a radio drama and I throughly enjoyed it. Beyond the actors, each character had a unique and dynamic personality making it easy to keep track of everyone.
This is my first book by Hallett, but I'm now going to pick up her previous books. I had the pleasure of attending a Simon and Schuster virtual event where Hallett spoke about this book. I thought that the premise sounded intriguing, but I had no idea how much fun this book would be.
The story is told through transcripts of a reporter named Amanda who wants to write a book about the Alperton Angels case. Approximately eighteen years earlier, a murder took place in a warehouse with people who claimed to be angels. A baby born to two teenagers was recovered. The teens had been led to believe that they were angels and their baby was the anti-christ. The baby was meant to be killed, but before that could happen the older people involved, said to be angels, died. The teens and their baby were put into protection. Now, the baby, whose identity has been protected, is about to turn eighteen and there is renewed interest in the case. Amanda and a rival writer are both attempting to get a book out and to discover the identity of the baby. As they research the case, they realize that things might not be as they seem.
This story is dark, gruesome, and also intensely funny. I was surprised by the humor throughout. It's a solid mystery with a really surprising final twist. I truly had no idea where it was heading one moment to the next and this kept me locked into listening.
I was hooked right away!
The audio book has a large cast making it easy to follow with the different voices. It was similar to listening to a radio drama and I throughly enjoyed it. Beyond the actors, each character had a unique and dynamic personality making it easy to keep track of everyone.
This is my first book by Hallett, but I'm now going to pick up her previous books. I had the pleasure of attending a Simon and Schuster virtual event where Hallett spoke about this book. I thought that the premise sounded intriguing, but I had no idea how much fun this book would be.
The story is told through transcripts of a reporter named Amanda who wants to write a book about the Alperton Angels case. Approximately eighteen years earlier, a murder took place in a warehouse with people who claimed to be angels. A baby born to two teenagers was recovered. The teens had been led to believe that they were angels and their baby was the anti-christ. The baby was meant to be killed, but before that could happen the older people involved, said to be angels, died. The teens and their baby were put into protection. Now, the baby, whose identity has been protected, is about to turn eighteen and there is renewed interest in the case. Amanda and a rival writer are both attempting to get a book out and to discover the identity of the baby. As they research the case, they realize that things might not be as they seem.
This story is dark, gruesome, and also intensely funny. I was surprised by the humor throughout. It's a solid mystery with a really surprising final twist. I truly had no idea where it was heading one moment to the next and this kept me locked into listening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Sexism and Bullying
This is a murder mystery and some of the descriptions are quite gruesome. The main character also faces some bullying early in her career and there is sexism.alisonannk's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexism, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Misogyny, Violence, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
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