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kris386's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, and Abandonment
Minor: Infertility, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Suicide
rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Katie and her brother Chris have had a strained relationship ever since the brutal attack on Chris that changed their lives forever. Decades later, it might be too late to fix things when Chris goes missing.
In this book, we are introduced to two separate mysteries that inevitably wind together – the disappearance of Chris Shaw, and the murder of Alan Hobbs – and the way that they come together made me exercise my brain and sometimes stretched my incredulity. I would hesitate to call this a mystery, as we are given nearly all the pieces in the first section of the book – it is fitting them all together which takes time.
I enjoyed the clever writing, and the theme of determinism that forms the keystone of the story, the question of if our pasts determine our present, or if we are more than the sum of our parts. I also really liked the sibling relationship between Katie and Chris, which is very complicated but still loving, and empathized with Katie’s need to not give up on her brother.
However, I thought the story moved along rather slowly, and while some reveals were well-done, I felt that others had been so telegraphed so obviously that they were rather robbed of their impact. There was also a supernatural elements to the story which I wasn’t expecting – though they are alluded to in the blurb, I did not realized how thoroughly the author leaned into them – and it seemed that many other readers were taken aback as well. Also, while I liked the character of Detective Page, I felt that his side of the narrative never really rose above being a device to move the plot along.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which is narrated by Rosalie Craig. I thought she did a good job of differentiating characters, and was especially good at portraying the fear and horror that characters felt during the story.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
paronomaniac's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Child death
Minor: Abandonment
enchantressreads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A mysterious murder from an already dying man brings two seemingly unrelated families together as detectives try to figure out who killed an aging professor; but maybe more important is *why.*
Katie Shaw and her brother Chris are estranged after Chris goes off the deep end following his attempted murder by a random attack. Her mother believes that Chris is now clean, but also has someone after him. The past haunts Katie, Chris, and the family of a long dead serial killer in this thriller with twists that’ll excite you.
I don’t like to go into much detail about thrillers, because it’s more fun to figure things out for yourself. The Angel Maker was fun, and I enjoyed trying to piece everything together. My one question is: why does nobody lock their doors? I lock my doors in complete peace, I’d definitely lock my doors if I had a stalker/murderer after me.
Thank you to Celadon Books for the chance to read this advanced review copy. Pick up a copy for yourself and see if you can follow the twists this family thriller brings.
CW for blood, death, murder, violence, child abuse, child death, sexism, addiction, suicide, domestic abuse, misogyny, and religious bigotry
Katie Shaw and her brother Chris are estranged after Chris goes off the deep end following his attempted murder by a random attack. Her mother believes that Chris is now clean, but also has someone after him. The past haunts Katie, Chris, and the family of a long dead serial killer in this thriller with twists that’ll excite you.
I don’t like to go into much detail about thrillers, because it’s more fun to figure things out for yourself. The Angel Maker was fun, and I enjoyed trying to piece everything together. My one question is: why does nobody lock their doors? I lock my doors in complete peace, I’d definitely lock my doors if I had a stalker/murderer after me.
Thank you to Celadon Books for the chance to read this advanced review copy. Pick up a copy for yourself and see if you can follow the twists this family thriller brings.
CW for blood, death, murder, violence, child abuse, child death, sexism, addiction, suicide, domestic abuse, misogyny, and religious bigotry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Addiction and Suicide
Minor: Sexism, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny
sarahmcg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Thanks to Celadon Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book kept me engaged, but ultimately left me with more questions than answers at the end. I listened on audiobook, while my husband read the physical copy, and I found myself having to rewind and re-listen to certain parts to get a handle on the characters’ various storylines - who was who, and how did they relate to each other?
I would have liked further explanations on certain storylines, I feel like some just ended up being red herrings. This bummed me out because I really enjoyed the Whisper Man! As a fellow reviewer mentioned, it felt more philosophical than a thriller.
Despite my complaints, I still would describe it as an engaging read, and it was fun to discuss theories with my husband as we read along.
This book kept me engaged, but ultimately left me with more questions than answers at the end. I listened on audiobook, while my husband read the physical copy, and I found myself having to rewind and re-listen to certain parts to get a handle on the characters’ various storylines - who was who, and how did they relate to each other?
I would have liked further explanations on certain storylines, I feel like some just ended up being red herrings. This bummed me out because I really enjoyed the Whisper Man! As a fellow reviewer mentioned, it felt more philosophical than a thriller.
Despite my complaints, I still would describe it as an engaging read, and it was fun to discuss theories with my husband as we read along.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Violence, Murder, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death
readingwithkaitlyn's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Stalking, and Child death
Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia
jazzyjbox's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
Part philosophy, this is a twisted mystery about fate, determinism, and choice.
The Angel Maker is a multi-POV story about the murder of a man connected to others in a peculiar way. Two sons of a serial killer, a woman and her brother who was strangely attacked as a teen, and a detective investigating the murder.
This is one book that will stick with me for a while.
Thank you to Celadon Books for the opportunity to read and review!
The Angel Maker is a multi-POV story about the murder of a man connected to others in a peculiar way. Two sons of a serial killer, a woman and her brother who was strangely attacked as a teen, and a detective investigating the murder.
This is one book that will stick with me for a while.
Thank you to Celadon Books for the opportunity to read and review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Murder and Drug use
Minor: Child death
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Child death, Gaslighting, and Murder
booksbeyondthebinary's review
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Addiction
soobooksalot's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I loved Alex North's The Whisper Man. I didn't care much for The Shadows. The Angel Maker is somewhere between.
Thank you to Celedon Books and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
The first chapter winds up with a violent image, of a boy being viciously attacked with a knife.
The book unfolds with multiple storylines and timeframes intersecting. Compelling characters and creepy scenarios keep things moving quickly.
Personally, I struggled a bit to keep some of the connection lines drawn between the characters, and some plot points weren't resolved enough for me.
I enjoyed reading it, but I'm left with questions.
For release on Feb. 28.
Thank you to Celedon Books and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
The first chapter winds up with a violent image, of a boy being viciously attacked with a knife.
The book unfolds with multiple storylines and timeframes intersecting. Compelling characters and creepy scenarios keep things moving quickly.
Personally, I struggled a bit to keep some of the connection lines drawn between the characters, and some plot points weren't resolved enough for me.
I enjoyed reading it, but I'm left with questions.
For release on Feb. 28.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Suicide, Drug abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury