Thrillers & Suspense
![Alex North - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B07KWDKSZQ.jpg)
The Angel Maker: A Novel
"Deeply complex and carefully crafted, this novel is a thrilling question mark all the way to the end, and it puts North's storytelling skills on full display.… The Angel Maker, his best so far, is a superb addition to his already impressive oeuvre."
–npr
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.
–npr
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.
Editorial Reviews
**Named a Must Read by PopSugar and CrimeReads**
"A story that combines lofty philosophical inquiries about fate and free will with the grisly legacy of a sadistic serial killer. ... Deep down it explores an endlessly intriguing [question]: Is it possible to change the course of fate?"
–The New York Times
"Deeply complex and carefully crafted, this novel is a thrilling question mark all the way to the end, and it puts North's storytelling skills on full display.… The Angel Maker, his best so far, is a superb addition to his already impressive oeuvre."
–npr
The Angel Maker weaves "an intriguing cast of characters across multiple time periods into a story rich with layers and plot twists and perfectly suspenseful pacing. A delightfully bone-chilling tale."
–Kirkus Reviews
"At [The Angel Maker's] center is a present-day murder, but embedded in its core are the paranormal, elements of cringeworthy horror, and a riveting study of the bonds and boundaries of sibling devotion, as well as a master study on determinism... Everything in this story is connected in ways the reader can't begin to imagine until a series of stunning parallels and revelations are disclosed. Wait for it!"
―Booklist, starred review
"Told in multiple voices and with digressions into the past, The Angel Maker is disturbing, absorbing and, in the beginning, a crazy kaleidoscope of storytelling. Be patient, though...the big picture here does come together. And when it does, it's not one you're likely to forget."
―St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"A story that combines lofty philosophical inquiries about fate and free will with the grisly legacy of a sadistic serial killer. ... Deep down it explores an endlessly intriguing [question]: Is it possible to change the course of fate?"
–The New York Times
"Deeply complex and carefully crafted, this novel is a thrilling question mark all the way to the end, and it puts North's storytelling skills on full display.… The Angel Maker, his best so far, is a superb addition to his already impressive oeuvre."
–npr
The Angel Maker weaves "an intriguing cast of characters across multiple time periods into a story rich with layers and plot twists and perfectly suspenseful pacing. A delightfully bone-chilling tale."
–Kirkus Reviews
"At [The Angel Maker's] center is a present-day murder, but embedded in its core are the paranormal, elements of cringeworthy horror, and a riveting study of the bonds and boundaries of sibling devotion, as well as a master study on determinism... Everything in this story is connected in ways the reader can't begin to imagine until a series of stunning parallels and revelations are disclosed. Wait for it!"
―Booklist, starred review
"Told in multiple voices and with digressions into the past, The Angel Maker is disturbing, absorbing and, in the beginning, a crazy kaleidoscope of storytelling. Be patient, though...the big picture here does come together. And when it does, it's not one you're likely to forget."
―St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Readers Top Reviews
mnmloveliWinch
MAR ‘23 - 2 STARS DESCRIPTION: 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.
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. REVIEW: First two books by this author were The Whisper Man (‘19 - Read ‘20 - 5 Stars) and The Shadows (‘20 - 4 Stars). I’ve missed this author’s writing since his last book was 2020. Right away his writing had me excited & anticipating another great read. About 45% I’m not connected to any characters and the plot is bouncing all over. I have to admit I’m a little confused but trying to push on. Book did not get better for me. At 80% I gave up. Very disappointed in this boring book.
Kindle Brooklyn
The story was had loose ends that were not tied up or cut off. The marital relationship issues was needed and it questioned the characters parenting practices. The main character was dishonest with her mate and kept harmful secrets. Taking risks as a parent causes mistrust and anger. The sibling relationship was repaired by introducing more trauma. The monsters in the story were reduced to a pitifully, weak and disabled state. Not working with Law Enforcement, without any evidence of wrong doing and corruption was not necessary. Overall, this was a fast read and the author set good boundaries for the readers . This reader does not want to feel the author's sympathy for psychopaths. I would recommend this book to a mature, knowledgeable reader.
Kindle Kindle B
It's a pretty good story and I'm pretty sure I know the who, what, where, when and why, but I think on the next book I read from this author I may start out by drawing a flow chart.
Ellen WKindle Ki
I could not wait for this novel to be published. I loved both of his other novels. This one isn’t near as good. The plot in his other books seemed impossible, but he would wrap them up in the end with a believable and possible ending. He wraps this one up also, but it just isn’t believable. It is still worth a read.
