The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

 

A true crime author, Amanda Bailey, decides to revisit the case of the Alperton Angels. The Angels were a cult that convinced a young girl and her boyfriend that their baby was the anti-Christ and needed to be sacrificed. The girl called the police and she and the baby were rescued and subsequently disappeared. Amanda believes that finding the baby who is now about to turn 18 is the perfect angle for he book.

Amanda isn't the only one with the idea. Fellow author Oliver Menzies has the same plan. He and Amanda share a complicated history, but their publishers decide they should work together on the story. 

Digging into the events they discover that there is still a lot of mystery surrounding what happened beyond the fate of the mother and baby. Recollections of witnesses to the events don't always agree on details. Not all are eager to share what they remember. As they delve further into the story it seems there still is some danger surrounding the Alperton Angels, and maybe not everyone wants to know the truth.

Janice Hallett tells her story through WhatsApp messages, transcripts of recorded conversations, and draft chapters for the proposed books. There is a lot to keep track of. The nature of the messages and conversations keep the story moving propulsively forward. Twists and turns along the way keep readers constantly on their toes. Hallett does a masterful job at creating both mood and suspense. The story never flags and the ending comes at you like a freight train. This is a great story sure to please fans of mystery and suspense.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.