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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
First and foremost, this was packed to the brim with creepy suspense and really kept me engaged throughout which I found to be super similar to his first two books. There were many dark themes at play here and I loved diving head first into fucked-up town pretty much right from the start.
I read this one in 2-3 sittings and I'm very glad I did, or else I think I would have found the extremely intricate plot to be even more confusing than I did. Don't get me wrong-I really enjoyed this book and loved how well developed the various parts of the story were, but it definitely took me a little while to distinguish the different storylines and characters which slowed down an otherwise pretty fast paced read.
I am such a sucker for the serial killer family member troupe, and adding onto it the unique philosophical elements that were intertwined I found to be super unique. There were definitely more police procedural themes woven in than I expected, but I suppose I should have anticipated this after reading The Whisper Man and The Shadows. As someone who isn't super riveted by these storylines due to YEARS of reading purely crime fiction, I was pleasantly surprised to find these chapters to be relatively short and really helped add to the story without going off on it's own separate storyline.
Regardless of those few points, Alex North's fantastic writing and dark story telling really shone through in his third release and I found myself enjoying it just as much as I did his other two. Highly recommend picking this one up when it publishes 2/28! And a big thank you to Celadon books for my review copy!
I read this one in 2-3 sittings and I'm very glad I did, or else I think I would have found the extremely intricate plot to be even more confusing than I did. Don't get me wrong-I really enjoyed this book and loved how well developed the various parts of the story were, but it definitely took me a little while to distinguish the different storylines and characters which slowed down an otherwise pretty fast paced read.
I am such a sucker for the serial killer family member troupe, and adding onto it the unique philosophical elements that were intertwined I found to be super unique. There were definitely more police procedural themes woven in than I expected, but I suppose I should have anticipated this after reading The Whisper Man and The Shadows. As someone who isn't super riveted by these storylines due to YEARS of reading purely crime fiction, I was pleasantly surprised to find these chapters to be relatively short and really helped add to the story without going off on it's own separate storyline.
Regardless of those few points, Alex North's fantastic writing and dark story telling really shone through in his third release and I found myself enjoying it just as much as I did his other two. Highly recommend picking this one up when it publishes 2/28! And a big thank you to Celadon books for my review copy!
I'm not sure where to begin for this review. I listened to this thriller on audio and binged it quickly.
This book follows multiple characters including Katie and her brother Chris who is currently missing after she reported him to the police for stealing from her 2 years ago. Michael Hyde is another main character who attempted to murder Chris when he was a teenager. Katie blames herself for not walking home with her brother when she was supposed to. Alan Hobbes is another of the main characters in the novel, a wealthy philosophy professor who lectures on the idea that every action is predetermined and cannot be changed. There are also two detectives who play main roles in the novel trying to locate Chris (the missing brother) and help solve a murder amongst other underlying crimes.
This was a very well written thriller however, with all of the characters, it was a bit hard to follow on audio and keep up with how they were all connected. I found myself wishing I had the text in front of me so I could flip back in the book and refresh my memory. I do believe some sort of character map would have been helpful to keep all of the connections straight (even though it would have been a spoiler as some connections you do not discover until the very end). Maybe it could be bonus content on the author's website?
I noticed that the book is classified as "horror". I wouldn't necessarily describe this novel as horror personally. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a serial killer, multiple point of view, thriller.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book follows multiple characters including Katie and her brother Chris who is currently missing after she reported him to the police for stealing from her 2 years ago. Michael Hyde is another main character who attempted to murder Chris when he was a teenager. Katie blames herself for not walking home with her brother when she was supposed to. Alan Hobbes is another of the main characters in the novel, a wealthy philosophy professor who lectures on the idea that every action is predetermined and cannot be changed. There are also two detectives who play main roles in the novel trying to locate Chris (the missing brother) and help solve a murder amongst other underlying crimes.
This was a very well written thriller however, with all of the characters, it was a bit hard to follow on audio and keep up with how they were all connected. I found myself wishing I had the text in front of me so I could flip back in the book and refresh my memory. I do believe some sort of character map would have been helpful to keep all of the connections straight (even though it would have been a spoiler as some connections you do not discover until the very end). Maybe it could be bonus content on the author's website?
I noticed that the book is classified as "horror". I wouldn't necessarily describe this novel as horror personally. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a serial killer, multiple point of view, thriller.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
4/11/23 Update:
All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an ARC!
This is Alex North's 3rd novel that I have read as it came out and I really enjoyed it! I don't think anything will ever hit like The Whisper Man did, though. The story was rather slow paced but I was excited to find out what was going to happen. The story follows a few different story lines, both in the past and the present. The one big critique I have is in the book's description it states ".... a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future" and I was disappointed to find out that this storyline didn't get flushed out. I won't say anything that might spoil why, but while it was alluded to, it wasn't explored like I wanted to when I read that. I really enjoyed the last serial killer fiction story involving time and like seeing the theme again. Overall, I enjoyed reading it and will still pick up his next book! I just can't stay away from a potentially great thriller!
3/27/23
North's books are always fun! 4.5 stars!
All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an ARC!
This is Alex North's 3rd novel that I have read as it came out and I really enjoyed it! I don't think anything will ever hit like The Whisper Man did, though. The story was rather slow paced but I was excited to find out what was going to happen. The story follows a few different story lines, both in the past and the present. The one big critique I have is in the book's description it states ".... a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future" and I was disappointed to find out that this storyline didn't get flushed out. I won't say anything that might spoil why, but while it was alluded to, it wasn't explored like I wanted to when I read that. I really enjoyed the last serial killer fiction story involving time and like seeing the theme again. Overall, I enjoyed reading it and will still pick up his next book! I just can't stay away from a potentially great thriller!
3/27/23
North's books are always fun! 4.5 stars!
Holy chills. And did my power go out while reading this book at night home alone in the dark? It sure did. Poor planning on my part but regardless ouuu this book drew me in big time. LOVED it. The multiple POVs, multiple timelines and intricate storylines that weaved together seamlessly were *chefs kiss* and the twist??? Never would have expected things to weave together in the way they did. 5 stars and without a doubt the most chilling spine tingling thriller I’ve read in a while. A must read for psychological thriller fans!
Thank you Netgalley and Celadon books for this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and Celadon books for this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 2.8 leaves out of 5
Characters: 2.5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 2.5/5
Writing: 3/5
Horror: 1/5
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeah
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book. I really liked The Shadows by Alex and when I saw this one up on Netgalley I quickly requested this book.
There were a lot of lines to follow while figuring out who was who. I think listening to it was harder for this than maybe actually reading it. I am still not sure about like... 3 people in this whole book. I liked the concept of the story I just think it was poorly executed. Alex was trying to do a lot and instead of giving us a clear view it because busy and too much.
Characters: 2.5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 2.5/5
Writing: 3/5
Horror: 1/5
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeah
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book. I really liked The Shadows by Alex and when I saw this one up on Netgalley I quickly requested this book.
There were a lot of lines to follow while figuring out who was who. I think listening to it was harder for this than maybe actually reading it. I am still not sure about like... 3 people in this whole book. I liked the concept of the story I just think it was poorly executed. Alex was trying to do a lot and instead of giving us a clear view it because busy and too much.
This was my first read by Alex North although I have heard great things about his other Book, The Whisper Man. After reading this one it definitely has moved up on my TBR list. Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for this Arc.
This book has it all revenge, detectives , a serial killer and then there’s the book that is supposed to tell the future. It all sounded weird at first, but the twists, turns, and suspense that brought this entire story together was clever and had me guessing until the end, much like the detectives on how everything fit together until the jaw dropping conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. Add it to your TBR immediately !
This book has it all revenge, detectives , a serial killer and then there’s the book that is supposed to tell the future. It all sounded weird at first, but the twists, turns, and suspense that brought this entire story together was clever and had me guessing until the end, much like the detectives on how everything fit together until the jaw dropping conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. Add it to your TBR immediately !
The Angel Maker isn’t out until February so I’m way ahead having read this, but it fit it so well with my fall creepy reading and I couldn’t resist. While it was a bit confusing with many characters that are tied together, the main character is Katie, who is looking for her brother Chris, who was injured as a child. It also features Laurence, a detective who connects a current murder to a past serial killer – and to Chris. I was left with a few questions but overall this was a quick read that I enjoyed. It has a bit of a philosophical focus as well – is everything pre determined and if so, can your fate be changed?
THE ANGEL MAKER by Alex North is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you on edge from start to finish. As the investigation unfolds, the reader is taken on a dark and twisted journey that explores the depths of the human psyche and how far a sister is willing to go to save her brother. North masterfully weaves together multiple storylines and characters, creating a rich and complex narrative. The characters are well-developed, with their flaws and vulnerabilities adding to the sense of realism. The writing is taut and evocative, creating an atmosphere of unease that persists throughout the novel. Mr. North has once again proven himself to be a master of the psychological thriller genre and I will probably be scared of going to bed for a few days.
2.5 Stars rounded up. I am not going to spend a ton of time on this one because, though I just put the book down, it is not very memorable for me. The story started with heaps of intrigue, but the constant POV flips and conspiracy laden reveals cause the book to quickly become convoluted and a bit confusing. By the time the last piece fell into place I was underwhelmed, thus the low rating. It is light on the thrills and even though I thought the premise was interesting the underlying mystery was just a bit lackluster when it comes down to it.
North's writing was great and the characters were ok, but in the end I could have put the book down at any given point and been just as satisfied with the DNF. I have heard good things about this author and his other books, so I will give him another try, and I have seen some happy readers of this book so I know there is a fan base, but it was a miss for me.
North's writing was great and the characters were ok, but in the end I could have put the book down at any given point and been just as satisfied with the DNF. I have heard good things about this author and his other books, so I will give him another try, and I have seen some happy readers of this book so I know there is a fan base, but it was a miss for me.
Having read Alex North's previous two novels, The Whisper Man and The Shadows (which thoroughly made my skin crawl), I was looking forward to another thriller with a dose of horror. However, The Angel Maker played out more like a straightforward murder mystery, which was fine, but just not quite what I had come to expect from North.
The novel opens with a gruesome scene. High schooler Katie Shaw is supposed to escort her younger brother Christopher home from school, but instead chooses to spend some "quality time" with her boyfriend, trusting Christopher will get home home without her assistance. When she makes her way to her house a couple of hours later, she's shocked to see caution tape and police officers. Left alone, her brother had been attacked on the way home by a complete stranger, who stabbed him several times and then "attempted to cut off his face". Christopher survives, but the scars run deep, both physical and emotional.
One of the first officers on the scene that day was Detective Laurence Page. Years later, he's called in to investigate the murder of a reclusive professor and philanthropist who was killed at home in his bed. His partner finds security footage that shows someone disconnecting the camera in the bedroom prior to the murder. The face on the screen is one Detective Page still remembers: Christopher Shaw.
For whatever reason, The Angel Maker didn't quite capture my interest. There was nothing wrong with the plot, which was better than average, or the pacing, which moved quickly, but I didn't find myself seeking out time to read this one the same way I had with North's previous novels. It's a relatively quick read, but one that I wanted to finish not so much to have the book's final secrets revealed, but mostly so I could move on to the next book. I'd recommend either of North's previous novels; this one was fine, but temper your expectations.
The novel opens with a gruesome scene. High schooler Katie Shaw is supposed to escort her younger brother Christopher home from school, but instead chooses to spend some "quality time" with her boyfriend, trusting Christopher will get home home without her assistance. When she makes her way to her house a couple of hours later, she's shocked to see caution tape and police officers. Left alone, her brother had been attacked on the way home by a complete stranger, who stabbed him several times and then "attempted to cut off his face". Christopher survives, but the scars run deep, both physical and emotional.
One of the first officers on the scene that day was Detective Laurence Page. Years later, he's called in to investigate the murder of a reclusive professor and philanthropist who was killed at home in his bed. His partner finds security footage that shows someone disconnecting the camera in the bedroom prior to the murder. The face on the screen is one Detective Page still remembers: Christopher Shaw.
For whatever reason, The Angel Maker didn't quite capture my interest. There was nothing wrong with the plot, which was better than average, or the pacing, which moved quickly, but I didn't find myself seeking out time to read this one the same way I had with North's previous novels. It's a relatively quick read, but one that I wanted to finish not so much to have the book's final secrets revealed, but mostly so I could move on to the next book. I'd recommend either of North's previous novels; this one was fine, but temper your expectations.