The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, death by suicide, emotional abuse, and substance use.

Oliver and Amanda wonder how Gray Graham discovered the Alperton Angels’ bodies before the police. 

Cathy from the Cold & Unsolved Murder Club emails Amanda, pointing out further discrepancies in reports of the Alperton Angels’ mass deaths by suicide. The dead angels were identified as Michael, Gabriel, and Elemiah, yet Gabriel escaped. Christopher Shenk, a petty criminal, was then named Raphael, the third body.

In an excerpt from My Angel Diary, Tilly describes meeting another angel, Ashleigh. An excerpt from the screenplay Divine describes Gabriel and Jonah’s anger when they discover that Holly attended church alone. A few days later, a young woman knocks on the apartment door but eventually leaves when they do not answer. Jonah believes that she is one of the “dark forces” looking for the baby.

Amanda appeals for information on the case in a podcast. An anonymous witness describes seeing Christopher at the police station when the Alperton Angels died. Another says that the newspaper reports about Harpinder Singh were inaccurate. Articles suggested that Harpinder was a destitute waiter who had just arrived from India, but he came from a wealthy family and was raised in England. A third email claims that TV producer Suzi Korman was planning to make a documentary on the Alperton Angels when she died in a house fire.

A former social worker reveals that Holly’s name was Rowley Wild before she became an Alperton Angel. Amanda discovers that Rowley attended a private girls’ high school at the same time as Jess Adesina, the author of My Angel Diary. Amanda confronts Jess at a book-signing event, asking why Rowley left school and joined the Alperton Angels. Jess reveals that Rowley was in and out of foster care because her wealthy parents used drugs and were neglectful.

During a research trip to St. Barnabus Church and the apartment block where Gabriel lived, Oliver experiences dizzy spells. He shows Amanda a “murder map” that he created. Oliver suggests that area murders 17 years before the Assembly created a spiral of dark energy, preventing the angels from destroying the antichrist. His book will argue that the antichrist is still at large. Amanda declares that the idea is “quirky” and could have “mileage.” After transcribing this conversation, Ellie messages Amanda, concerned about Oliver’s state of mind. Amanda assures Ellie that she is monitoring the situation.

A technician cleans the corrupted audio file of Oliver’s visit to Gabriel. In the recording, Gabriel says that Oliver has fulfilled his earthly purpose as an angel and is now vulnerable to the negative energy of someone targeting him. Gabriel claims that he had a dream about Oliver above an orchard and that the location will play a significant role in his fate.

In a letter to David Polneath, Amanda asks to meet, revealing that she recently had an encounter with “the powers-that-be” (249). She was instructed to stop searching for the baby and tell her editor that the child was untraceable; otherwise, her life would be in danger. Afterward, an article reports David’s death in a house fire. Amanda messages Debbie Condon, asking if anyone pressured her not to make the documentary exposing safeguarding failures in the Alperton Angels case. Debbie says no but reveals that she found a speculative script based on the case while cleaning her office. She offers to send Amanda her copy of Divine by Clive Badham.

Amanda messages Police Chief Inspector Mike Dean to clarify when Holly reported Gabriel for credit card fraud. Dean says that this happened in 1990 or 1991. Amanda says that Holly would have been four or five at that time, but he insists that she was in her late teens. Oliver suggests that Gabriel, Holly, and Jonah are immortal.

Amanda tries to work out the connection between the adult angels. Gabriel had a criminal record for fraud and theft. Michael (Dominic Jones) and Elemiah (Alan Morgan) were also petty criminals. Raphael’s (Christopher Shenk’s) criminal history was related to drugs and organized crime gangs.

Amanda visits the restaurant where Harpinder worked, which has changed hands since 2003. Off the record, workers claim that Christopher was involved in a drug operation and that Harpinder was an undercover police officer.

Ellie is worried that Amanda is working too hard and that the job is triggering past trauma. When Ellie next messages her, Amanda claims that she is relaxing.

Amanda meets Oliver, who claims that the calls he receives early every morning are the angels trying to communicate. Amanda has a new angle for her book: how people are vulnerable to illogical beliefs and the lingering impact of the Alperton Angels. She shows Oliver a picture of the Alperton Angel symbols painted on the Assembly floor, revealing that they represent Gabriel, Elemiah, and Michael, but there is no symbol for Raphael. Oliver suggests that dark forces killed Jonathan Childs, Gray Graham, and Mark Dunning. He says that the same dark forces are trying to block his power, causing dizzy spells.

In pages from the screenplay Divine, Holly follows Gabriel when he leaves the apartment, leaving the door unlatched. She follows him to a care home and watches him charm the elderly residents. Several pages are missing, and then the script continues. In the apartment, Holly and Jonah listen from the next room as Gabriel, Michael, and Elemiah discuss a dead body. Gabriel identifies the dead man as a neighbor. Elemiah suggests moving the body to the empty apartment next door. He says that Holly and Jonah have now “served their purpose” (283). Gabriel argues that the teenagers still provide a convenient cover since none of them can be seen with the baby.

Amanda messages Clive, claiming that she wants to make a film of his script.