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*** THE SMASH HIT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ***
*** THE GENRE-BUSTING RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK ***
*** A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF YEAR ***
*** AN OBSERVER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR ***
*** A TELEGRAPH BEST SUMMER BOOK OF THE YEAR ***

‘The queen of tricksy crime’ – SUNDAY TIMES
‘Her best so far’ – MARIAN KEYES
‘Another resounding success’ – DAILY EXPRESS

Open the safe deposit box.
Inside you will find research material for a true crime book.
You must read the documents, then make a decision.
Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police?

Everyone knows the sad story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her newborn baby was the anti-Christ. Believing they had a divine mission to kill the infant, they were only stopped when the girl came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than stand trial, while mother and baby disappeared into the care system.

Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed; if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby’s trail.

As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The truth is something much darker and stranger than they’d ever imagined. And the story of the Alperton Angels is far from over.

From the bestselling author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code comes a stunning new mystery for fans of Richard Osman and S.J. Bennett, that shot straight into the Sunday Times bestseller list in January 2023. The devil is in the detail…

Publisher Review

I really enjoyed it! Her best so far -- Marian Keyes, author of RACHEL, AGAIN It's not enough to say that this book is fascinating, gripping and clever. It's an astonishing piece of work. Janice Hallett is playing a different ball game to the rest of us -- Ian Moore, author of DEATH AND CROISSANTS The queen of the narrative twist. She takes the conventions of the modern mystery novel and upends them as Christie did. And the themes of this book are haunting -- S.J. Bennett, author of THE WINDSOR KNOT Hallett has made the epistolary crime novel her own. An engaging crime tale using her unique narrative style. Inventive, absorbing and hotly anticipated by her legion of fans -- Vaseem Khan, author of THE UNEXPECTED INHERITANCE OF INSPECTOR CHOPRA Janice Hallett has done it again. Engrossing from the very first page, it's deviously clever and as charming as it is chilling -- Tom Hindle, author of A FATAL CROSSING Hooked me in completely... It's travelled with me to work, to the dentist's and even up a couple of mountains! A real treasure trove of a read -- J.M. Hall, author of A SPOONFUL OF MURDER Compelling, unputdownable, filled with Hallett's trademark fierce intelligence and kindness, this is the most intricate, spellbinding and befuddling mystery I have read in years -- Catriona Ward, author of THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET A richly rewarding, blisteringly clever read that raises questions about human gullibility in all its forms, while still moving forward propulsively * Reader's Digest * Fantastic. Keeps the 'found footage' narrative structure that Hallett does so well and injects some real darkness into it -- Tariq Ashkanani, author of WELCOME TO COOPER Janice at her absolute best - an intricate and surprising plot which keeps you turning the pages, interspersed with gentle but laugh out loud humour. I absolutely loved it - my favourite Janice Hallett book yet -- Catherine Cooper, author of THE CHALET Hallett continues to evolve the modern detective novel. Absolutely gripping -- Greg Buchanan, author of SIXTEEN HORSES Smart, witty and menacing - everything you want from a mystery. Utterly brilliant! -- Marion Todd, author of OLD BONES LIE Agatha Christie has found her heir. A genius premise. A perfect puzzle. Crime fiction fans will not want to miss this one! -- Victoria Selman, author of TRULY, DARKLY, DEEPLY A unique and completely immersive novel about manipulation, and seeking the truth at all costs. An absolute triumph in storytelling -- L.V. Matthews, author of THE TWINS I loved The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. It's fresh, whip-smart, dark and intriguing with a brilliant, compelling heroine. Janice Hallett is surely the queen of the brain-twisting, just-one-more-page mystery novel -- Gilly MacMillan, author of THE NANNY Constantly surprising, witty and fresh. I really enjoyed it! -- Emma Curtis, author of ONE LITTLE MISTAKE Compulsive, dark, twisty and unputdownable. A work of true genius, masterfully plotted, funny and unique -- Sarah J. Harris, author of THE COLOUR OF BEE LARKHAM'S MURDER Sinister and utterly compelling -- Andrew Wilson, author of A TALENT FOR MURDER Hallett has done it again! Brilliant, clever, and will have you hooked and guessing throughout -- Charlotte Levin, author of IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU Extremely clever, compelling and very chilling -- Jane Shemilt, author of THE PATIENT It knocked me sideways. Just as brilliant as you would expect from Janice Hallett. Twisty as a labryinth and so gripping I cancelled plans to finish it -- Sophie Irwin, author of A LADY'S GUIDE TO FORTUNE-HUNTING A clever, complex epistolary novel with explores our fascination with true crime, cults and storytelling itself -- Brian McGilloway, author of GALLOWS LANE Janice Hallett is a murder mystery mastermind. A new Agatha Christie for the modern age. This book is sure to grow her already considerable cult following -- A. J. West, author of THE SPIRIT ENGINEER I absolutely loved it. A brilliantly crafted proper mystery, I couldn't put it down -- Lisa Hall, author of THE PARTY Is anyone telling stories quite like Janice Hallett? It feels interactive, with readers invited to solve the mystery alongside the brilliantly tenacious protagonist. Intricate, funny and a total page-turner -- Amanda Block, author of THE LOST STORYTELLER Hallett is a wording wizard. Her storytelling ability is enviable. Characters whom I loved very quickly and intrigue are the beating heart of this book. -- J.M. Hewitt, author of THE OTHER SON What a switchback ride it is! The big twist made me drop my book but there are so many smaller shocks along the way. I enjoyed it hugely! -- Hope Adams, author of DANGEROUS WOMEN Janice Hallett dials her brilliance up yet another notch, exploiting the compulsive readability and inherent slipperiness of her chosen form to dazzling effect -- Leonora Nattrass, author of BLACK DROP I was absolutely mesmerised by The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels - stupendously clever, but also brilliant fun, with characters that just jump off the page -- Frances Quinn, author of THE BONESETTER WOMAN I absolutely loved it. It is the funniest, cleverest and most innovative novel I've read for years -- Sarah Stovell, author of THE HOME Absolutely loved The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. So gripping but also has real emotional heart. Bravo -- Alice Clark-Platt, author of THE COVE Very clever, twisty, shocking, and yet another reinvention of the crime novel by Janice Hallett. Brilliant, unique and compelling! -- Guy Morpuss, author of FIVE MINDS An outstandingly clever, compelling and unique read. Pitch-perfect story told in the most innovative way -- Cesca Major, author of THE SILENT HOURS Wickedly clever and immersive. I just can't get enough of Janice Hallett's writing -- Sophie Flynn, author of KEEP THEM CLOSE I genuinely don't know how Janice Hallett does it. The detail, the plot twists, the humour, even in dark places - she creates a brilliant puzzle for the reader to solve. I loved it -- Victoria Scott, author of PATIENCE A masterclass. It's exactly what you've come to expect: compelling written and utterly addictive. It's funny, dark, and the puzzle comes together brilliantly at the end -- Chris McDonald, author of A WASH OF BLACK Brilliantly clever, ingenious in structure and throughly compelling. Full of wonderful characters and extremely funny! -- Sarah Bonner, author of HER PERFECT TWIN I slowed down because I didn't want it to end. Heavenly and creepy combined with twisted genius. Outstanding -- Joy Kluver, author of BROKEN GIRLS What an absolute treat. Twisty and dark, packed full of angels and demons and monsters, with a thrilling mystery that keeps you guessing till the end -- Lynsey James, author of THE SINGLE DAD'S HANDBOOK It's so good. Gripping but my favourite thing is the humour - actual laugh out loud moments despite the shocking tale. Genius -- Heather Darwent, author of THE THINGS WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS Another absolutely brilliant mystery by one of my favourite crime writers. Take the role of investigator and let yourself be immersed in this fantastic novel. Five stars! -- Louise Mullins, author of ONE NIGHT ONLY What a compelling, complex, utterly gripping read. Hallett's cast of characters - both major and minor - are fully formed and so integral to the unfolding plot -- Sue Teddern, author of ANNIE STANLEY, ALL AT SEA Fiendishly clever. I am so impressed. Bravo! -- C.S. Green, author of THE WHISPER HOUSE