As readers might surmise from the title of Alex North’s latest thriller novel, there is a serial killer on the loose. North’s books are known for frightening crimes and surprising twists, and I enjoyed two of his previous books a lot. The February 2023 release- The Angel Maker - begins with a scene so scary and creepy that I wasn’t sure I could read this book. Seventeen-year-old Katie breaks her promise to walk her younger brother, Chris, home from school and instead opts to spend an extra hour with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, someone evil is lurking on the walking route, waiting for prey. To avoid spoilers, the details of this review stop here. Books are thrillers when readers don’t know what to expect.
It took longer than usual for me to read this book because, unlike previous books by this author, I kept setting it aside since I did not feel immediately drawn into the story once the first frightening scene had passed. Unfortunately, there were so many characters and different, interconnected plots that when I returned to The Angel Maker, I had to reread pages to refresh my memory. An unusual aspect of this thriller is the mystical, supernatural power of one character being able to see the future. I think readers will enjoy the book more than I did if they pay close attention and stick with this one book until they finish it. The final Aha moments in the last quarter of the book are worth working your way through 366 pages of an intricate plot with family dynamics as well as crime. My four-star rating is rounded up from a 3.75 enjoyment factor. Other readers may feel differently, and I urge fans of thrillers to discover this book for themselves.
It took longer than usual for me to read this book because, unlike previous books by this author, I kept setting it aside since I did not feel immediately drawn into the story once the first frightening scene had passed. Unfortunately, there were so many characters and different, interconnected plots that when I returned to The Angel Maker, I had to reread pages to refresh my memory. An unusual aspect of this thriller is the mystical, supernatural power of one character being able to see the future. I think readers will enjoy the book more than I did if they pay close attention and stick with this one book until they finish it. The final Aha moments in the last quarter of the book are worth working your way through 366 pages of an intricate plot with family dynamics as well as crime. My four-star rating is rounded up from a 3.75 enjoyment factor. Other readers may feel differently, and I urge fans of thrillers to discover this book for themselves.