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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Angel Maker was such a highly anticipated read this year for me. I have been waiting for it to come out for so long and tried to get an arc copy. Finally, I got a copy of it on Libby.
Whisper Man & The Shadows were both amazing books for me. Angel Maker fell incredibly flat. The first chapter or two had me super interested in where the story would go and the twists and turns that could follow. The next 180 pages were incredibly dull, confusing and had too many storylines. This story had so much potential, but the way that it was written just fell short. I kept reading hoping that the story would end in a shocking way, but it didn't. Some of the ending was interesting, but too much happened in the last 50 pages that should have been placed throughout the book to keep me on the edge of my seat. It took me so long to get through this book and considered DNF'ing multiple times.
It's so unfortunate that this one didn't rope me in like his other two books. I hope that his next release captivates me more.
Whisper Man & The Shadows were both amazing books for me. Angel Maker fell incredibly flat. The first chapter or two had me super interested in where the story would go and the twists and turns that could follow. The next 180 pages were incredibly dull, confusing and had too many storylines. This story had so much potential, but the way that it was written just fell short. I kept reading hoping that the story would end in a shocking way, but it didn't. Some of the ending was interesting, but too much happened in the last 50 pages that should have been placed throughout the book to keep me on the edge of my seat. It took me so long to get through this book and considered DNF'ing multiple times.
It's so unfortunate that this one didn't rope me in like his other two books. I hope that his next release captivates me more.
Told in third person via multiple narrators with flashbacks to previous timelines, I found the concept of this book to be fascinating, but the storytelling format caused a disconnect for me. The book was both clever and ambiguous in characters and timelines despite the specific labels. I enjoyed the parts that were narrated by Detective Laurence Page as he followed the clues to the ultimate conclusion. He pieced together several apparently unrelated events into a cohesive story that led him and his partner the right place at the right time in the end, though at times it was difficult to sit through since the reader already knew or could guess most of the information.
When it comes to the brothers, I found their narratives to be ambiguous, especially with regards to their referenced names. At times they are referred to by their first names then others by the surname and that’s where I started to get muddled by the inconsistencies. Was I supposed to think that they were other than what they appeared to be? Was I not supposed to notice that there were two references to characters with the first names “Edward” and “Alan” also referred to as Leland and Hobbes at times? It made me think I was confused over the characters, but it was actually just a name reference confusion.
I enjoyed the exploration of Katie’s guilt for her actions surrounding the incident with her brother as a teenager. I found Katie and Sam’s relationship rather lacking but I suppose that provided the story a catalyst in places. They supposedly loved each other very much but their support of each other failed on the follow-through. I also enjoyed the parts narrated by Chris and would have loved to see more from him, though perhaps that was to ramp up the mystery.
I thought the futuristic journal kept by a serial killer was an intriguing idea and wished that had come to a more satisfactory conclusion. I found the end to be anticlimactic. Ultimately, I think that this story would have benefited from less narrators with just a straight-forward 3-narrator perspective from the Detective, Katie and Chris. While the brothers lent a distinctive foreboding feel to the book, I could have done without their ambiguous narratives.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
When it comes to the brothers, I found their narratives to be ambiguous, especially with regards to their referenced names. At times they are referred to by their first names then others by the surname and that’s where I started to get muddled by the inconsistencies. Was I supposed to think that they were other than what they appeared to be? Was I not supposed to notice that there were two references to characters with the first names “Edward” and “Alan” also referred to as Leland and Hobbes at times? It made me think I was confused over the characters, but it was actually just a name reference confusion.
I enjoyed the exploration of Katie’s guilt for her actions surrounding the incident with her brother as a teenager. I found Katie and Sam’s relationship rather lacking but I suppose that provided the story a catalyst in places. They supposedly loved each other very much but their support of each other failed on the follow-through. I also enjoyed the parts narrated by Chris and would have loved to see more from him, though perhaps that was to ramp up the mystery.
I thought the futuristic journal kept by a serial killer was an intriguing idea and wished that had come to a more satisfactory conclusion. I found the end to be anticlimactic. Ultimately, I think that this story would have benefited from less narrators with just a straight-forward 3-narrator perspective from the Detective, Katie and Chris. While the brothers lent a distinctive foreboding feel to the book, I could have done without their ambiguous narratives.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
I am an Alex North fan, but this book was a disappointment. You need a flow chart to keep up with all of the characters and timelines. It was so chaotic that none of the characters developed. In the end, this book was too confusing.
I can not even tell you how excited I was to get an ARC of this book. Alex North is one of my go-to thriller writers, and this book just solidified that for me. I don't want to give too much away, but this book kept me guessing until the end. There were some things I had figured out, but others that I had no clue were coming. There were a lot of characters, and at first, I did have a bit of trouble keeping track of who was who, but that resolved itself pretty quickly. Once I picked this one up, I didn't want to put it down!
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this boom to review. All opinions are my own.
The Angel Maker releases on Tuesday, February 28.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this boom to review. All opinions are my own.
The Angel Maker releases on Tuesday, February 28.
The concept of determinism and legacies and the bonds of family is very strong. The hook snagged me right away, but ultimately, the writing of this one, falls short. The prose felt disjointed and thinly held together at times. Sometimes it was hard to know what was in the past vs recent past vs present day.
I think the plans and the idea for this novel were lofty, but it just didn't get there in the end. It was hard to follow, even when the author was laying it all out for us. It's very easy to miss something if you're not paying attention closely.
Trigger warnings in spoiler tag
I think the plans and the idea for this novel were lofty, but it just didn't get there in the end. It was hard to follow, even when the author was laying it all out for us. It's very easy to miss something if you're not paying attention closely.
Trigger warnings in spoiler tag
Spoiler
child abuse; religiosity; murder; assault; murder of a child; kidnapping; arson; addiction
I’ve really loved Alex North’s previous 2 books and while this one had elements I loved (like the philosophical concepts and discussions) it was way too unnecessarily confusing.
Gosh, I feel like this book had so much potential, but never quite went the distance. As with North's other books, there were so many different scenarios playing out at once and it was difficult to remember who was who, and even once he began to connect the dots, I still felt that the book was disjointed and that plot holes still remained after the last page.
Ugh, I was really looking forward to this. I’ve loved the author’s other books. But at 30% in, you shouldn’t be lost and have no clue as to what the point is… yet there I was. Look, it’s probably my fault. Or maybe it’s the fact that these characters all have the most generic names ever and so I can’t tell Edward apart from Jack apart from Chris apart from Alan. Why did I have the hardest time keeping track of who was who and who was when? OK, you know what, maybe it’s not just me - because at least two of these guys would sometimes be referred to as their first name and sometimes their last. I’m officially calling it — not my fault.
Halfway through, I went back and wrote myself notes about who was who. This helped a little. But I still just didn’t see the point, didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, and the whole thing was just a big bowl of Who Cares.
Halfway through, I went back and wrote myself notes about who was who. This helped a little. But I still just didn’t see the point, didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, and the whole thing was just a big bowl of Who Cares.
Book Review: The Angel Maker by Alex North – A Working Mom's Take
As a busy mom, I love a good thriller that pulls me in from the start, and The Angel Maker by Alex North did just that. This dark, gripping story revolves around Katie Shaw, whose brother was violently attacked years ago, and now she’s drawn back into a chilling mystery when a notorious killer resurfaces. The book weaves together past trauma, fate, and unsettling secrets in a way that keeps you guessing.
The suspense kept me hooked, and the emotional layers kept me connected and interested. It’s a perfect blend of psychological tension and heart.
Final Thoughts: The Angel Maker is a twisty, fast-paced thriller ideal for moms looking for an engrossing escape. With its blend of suspense and emotional depth, it’s hard to put down!
As a busy mom, I love a good thriller that pulls me in from the start, and The Angel Maker by Alex North did just that. This dark, gripping story revolves around Katie Shaw, whose brother was violently attacked years ago, and now she’s drawn back into a chilling mystery when a notorious killer resurfaces. The book weaves together past trauma, fate, and unsettling secrets in a way that keeps you guessing.
The suspense kept me hooked, and the emotional layers kept me connected and interested. It’s a perfect blend of psychological tension and heart.
Final Thoughts: The Angel Maker is a twisty, fast-paced thriller ideal for moms looking for an engrossing escape. With its blend of suspense and emotional depth, it’s hard to put down!