I’ve got to tell you how thrilled I am that Macmillan Audio keeps sending me audiobooks that I just don’t want to turn off (much to my detriment, ha). The Angel Maker by Alex North–another new-to-me author–is a page-turner of a novel that is almost impossible to put down.
This raises a question that I might discuss in another post: If you enjoy listening to audiobooks, do you sometimes find that experience to be superior to reading a book?
Blurb: From the New York Times bestselling author of The Whisper Man and The Shadows comes a dark, suspenseful new thriller about the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future.
Growing up in a beautiful house in the English countryside, Katie Shaw lived a charmed life. At the cusp of graduation, she had big dreams, a devoted boyfriend, and a little brother she protected fiercely. Until the day a violent stranger changed the fate of her family forever.
Years later, still unable to live down the guilt surrounding what happened to her brother, Chris, and now with a child of her own to protect, Katie struggles to separate the real threats from the imagined. Then she gets the phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more.
Meanwhile, Detective Laurence Page is facing a particularly gruesome crime. A distinguished professor of fate and free will has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff. All the leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future.
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The Angel Maker by Alex North is an exquisitely multi-leveled novel that is so intriguing it’s almost impossible to put down. Seemingly divergent storylines crisscross culminating in a satisfying ending.
Katie Shaw has always been protective of her little brother, Chris, albeit slightly jealous because her parents seem to love him more. Her warring emotions come to a head the day she decides to go to her boyfriend Sam’s house rather than see Chris home safely. On that day Chris is savagely attacked and nothing will ever be the same.
Now, years later, Katie’s mother calls Katie to tell her that Chris is missing. Katie had been unaware that her mother had even been in contact with her brother. Her mother tells her that Chris is better. He’s a better version of himself, no longer squandering his life. While doubtful, Katie tries to track him down.
Meanwhile, police detectives are investigating the horrific murder of a retired philosophy professor, Alan Hobbes, when they notice a camera. Whose face shows up in the recording while he is shutting off the recording? None other than Christopher Shaw’s who Detective Laurence Page recognizes from years before. Is it possible that all of these cases are linked or is it just coincidence?
Alex North has created a novel that is engrossing, sometimes creepy and complicated, and always delightfully intriguing. Unfortunately to discuss much more of the plot would be to venture into spoiler territory so suffice to say that paying attention while reading or listening is a must because so much is going on you could miss an important bit.
Rosalie Craig does a stellar job of bringing North’s novel to life. I loved the voice/accent she used for Laurence Page’s partner. However, the obvious thing is that if a narrator is doing a great job, the listener becomes so involved in the story’s telling that they sometimes stop paying attention to all of the work that that narrator is doing, which is good and bad. Good for the novel and listener but the narrator can go unappreciated. So Rosalie Craig is both very appreciated and unappreciated in this audiobook all in one go.
This one is for all of you who like your thrilling mysteries with a little creepy vibe. A freaking awesome read!
I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
This sounds so interesting!
It is! And so intelligently written.