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 Having said this, the playful ingenuity of The Appeal, set around an amateur dramatics group, is missing here. The mystery is deeply buried, quite complicated, and pretty dark. Amanda’s main aim is to discover the whereabouts of a baby who was the focus of the cult’s activities. The cult were planning a ritual slaughter of this infant, calling it the Antichrist, before they apparently killed themselves instead. Afterwards, both mother and child vanished, and in the past 18 years anyone who has tried to unearth them seems rapidly to have died in suspicious circumstances.

Michelle’s book is brilliantly written. She was an accomplished wordsmith and absolutely wrote from her heart in a way not all true crime authors do. But when you watch the documentary about her, you can see she becomes so engaged with trying to solve the case that she simply can’t write the book, yet she’s desperately trying to finish it in time for a deadline. I identified with that completely and I’m sure most writers do. 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

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Publication of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels in January, of course! I’m also in the middle of writing book four and even I think this one is devious.

With Angels we have the notes, interviews, texts, news reports and extracts from other playwrights/authors who have all been intrigued by a decades old mystery involving a cult called The Alperton Angels and its ensuing cover up (or not). After ensnaring the teenagers and convincing them that the baby was destined to doom humanity, they planned to kill the infant at the appointed time – 10 December 2003 – when five planets were due to align in a rare astral occurrence. However, despite the cult’s best laid plans, the ritual sacrifice did not go ahead as arranged, as Holly had second thoughts about the whole thing, took the baby to safety and called the police.Long-buried truth meets long-awaited fiction with deadly consequences in The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, the third fiendishly complex novel by Janice Hallett. Having skewered the venerable pastimes of amateur dramatics and children’s literature in her previous books, this time round Hallett focuses her perceptive storytelling on the phenomenon of true crime, shining a light on the particularly unsavoury aspects of the hugely popular genre. 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 Several books and screenplays had been based on the events. The missing baby is now approaching their 18th birthday. If Amanda can find the young person, it would be a coup, adding interest and publicity for her book. She also wants to interview Gabriel, now serving time in prison.

Such an original concept you can't help but be fully absorbed in trying to solve the mystery * Yours Magazine * 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 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. And the devilish story of the Alperton Angels is far from over...The author has garnered many fans since her debut The Appeal, and this will delight them... Featuring two true crime writers battling it out to get the best scoop, a cult, and mysteries galore, this had me obsessed * Prima * 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