One of those rare books for me, in which the initial attraction was purely word of mouth online from other advance readers I trust, and a title that intrigued me immensely. From a truly heart-stopping opening sequence, this is a story that has me in awe that such dark material is treated in such a way as to be so totally absorbing, Characters arrive fully formed, the hints as to what went wrong in the past ultimately leading to Katie's brother Chris to drop out of society, and what links these two to an apparently unconnected murder, all told against a backdrop of ever increasing darkness and impending horror.

Alex North's writing seems particularly suited to this style of story in that for me, it was over all too quickly - I lost track of time reading The Half Burnt House, so wrapped up was I in following these characters and needing to know what was going to happen next. A sign of great story-telling.

Having read and enjoyed The Whisper Man by Alex North I was looking forward to his new book and was pleased to be gifted a copy by netgalley in exchange for an honest review. For those interested The Half Burnt House will be published as The Angel Maker in the US. Katie always swore that she would look after her younger vulnerable brother Chris but when he is attacked and both mentally and physically scarred by Michael Hyde she feels deep down that she is to blame. Professor Hobbes has been murdered and what is unusual is that Hobbes appeared to be prepared for his death and indeed welcomed it. Jack Lock “The Angel Maker” was a notorious killer of teenagers and following his death artifacts and objects that he owned became valuable for those who collected “murderabilia” In particular a book he wrote containing his macabre thoughts had become an invaluable document and appears to have been in the ownership of the professor before it was stolen. Hobbes has lived the life of a recluse in a rambling crumbling mansion where his wife and daughter died under suspicious circumstances. Chris had been a drug addict but it was hoped now that having met James Alderson he would finally find some peace and happiness. He had been employed by Hobbes but following the professor’s murder Chris appears to have gone to ground….Is he the killer? What is within the covers of Lock’s book that Christopher is attempting to sell to the highest bidder? He has disappeared and it is within this context that Detective Laurence Page and Detective Pettifer are tasked with the job of finding him and unraveling the mystery behind the death of Hobbes

This has been a very enjoyable read and some of the ideas discussed in particular “determinism” has been an education. Professor Hobbes until his retirement was a philosophy lecturer who took great pleasure in explaining ideas behind great philosophers to eager students…..”the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.the doctrine of determinism states that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will."

I really enjoyed this book. It was most refreshing that it did not dwell primarily on the 2 detectives but rather built a very exciting read around a philosophical doctrine. The hero worthy of special praise is Katie who is fighting once again to right the wrong that has been done to her younger brother which she has always felt responsible for. Many thanks to the good people of netgalley for a gratis copy of The Burnt House in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

I enjoyed this book, but I found it very drawn-out and unnecessarily complicated. The characters didn't seem very believable, and none of them was particularly appealing unfortunately. I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy the clever plot.

I have read and reviewed Alex North - previous books so could not say no to this one

Alex North is N ex exceptional writer who makes you want to continue turning the pages
The plot does go backwards and forwards in time so may not suit everybody
The characters are well developed
It as plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing

Thank you netgalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House

"If you could see the future would you want to?"

I was well and truly freaked out by The Whisper Man, a rare thing for me as most horror books do not scare me. Alex North has done it again though. I found The Half Burnt House to be every bit as eerie and fantastic as The Whisper Man.

Kate and her boyfriend Sam are very much in love but her parents disapprove. Kate knows her parents love her less than her brother Chris but she still can't help herself from following their rules until the day she decides to rebel with disastrous consequences as Chris is brutally attacked.

As an adult Kate hasn't spoken to her brother for many years. When he becomes a suspect in a murder investigation kate knows she must try to right past wrongs.

This book was so cleverly written, posing and answering questions about determinism and choice. I spent the whole book feeling like there was something happening just out of my comprehension. I had no idea what was going on for most of the book but this wasn't a bad thing and all the loose ends tied up eventually.

"Whatever would happen would happen. The Story was already written and it would unfold in the way it had been intended."

I am sure you will love this book when you read...after all do you really have a choice?

Wow t the is was a gripper. I have loved the previous books but this one does jump around quite a lot. But saying that I was still intrigued and had to finish it. #TheHalfBurntHouse #NetGalley

A totally compelling and utterly addictive tale that grips from first page to last.

A host of brilliantly devised characters move through a subtly disturbing story of family, history and obsession. The writing is pitch perfect, the plot intelligent and a bit different which only adds to the overall atmosphere.

A strong streak of unpredictability seals the deal and this is a page turner that entertains absolutely whilst engaging your brain in many different ways.

I loved it

Alex North caught my eye back in 2019 with his terrific debut The Whisper Man, which he followed with a year later with another beauty, The Shadow Friend. I previously reviewed both novels for Ginger Nuts of Horror and was delighted to see them become sizable hits. Although both books are more thriller than horror, they feature a convincing whiff of the undiagnosed supernatural, which is continued in his third offering The Half-Burnt House. These are excellent page-turners which should have both traditional thriller and horror fans purring and solidify North’s reputation as an author going from strength to strength.

It is worth paying very close attention to the plot as it does jump backwards and forwards in time which includes multiple points of view. It takes some time for the various dots together and although it does become slightly confusing is ultimately a very well structured and thoughtful thriller which takes in a long dead local serial killer, stalkers, a bizarre cult, family secrets and a spiralling series of events kicked off by a seemingly random act of violence on a teenage boy.

The Half-Burnt House kicks off with teenager Katie mulling over whether she wants to have sex with her boyfriend. Very normal teenage stuff. She usually walked home from school with her younger brother Chris, however, on the one afternoon she spends with her boyfriend her brother is attacked on the street by a complete stranger, who tries to cut his face off. The story then jumps forward a decade, where Katie is now married with a young daughter, but her brother is now estranged after drifting into homelessness, petty crime and drug addiction.

I do not want to reveal too much about the plot or spoilers about how they connect together, but the main thrust involves Katie being contacted by two police detectives after Chris is spotted on CCTV belonging to a retired Philosophy professor. Alan Hobbes was viciously murdered, almost decapitated, and as the police investigate they realise Hobbes was very, very wealthy and had some very dark obsessions. But how did this connect to Chris? As the police investigation flounders, a very jumpy Katie, fearing for the life of her brother, begins her own investigation which takes her into a very dark and sinister world.

Some readers might find The Half-Burnt House a tad slow, but I found the complex exploration into trauma, family secrets and brainwashing via a gigantic jigsaw puzzle to be a very entertaining read. Some fascinating philosophical ideas are woken into the plot and similar to his other two novels not quite everything can be explained away by science. However, even though there was a lot going on the family dynamics at the centre of the novel was very convincing and how the ripple effect of the original knife attack on Chris had impacted the family. This included the guilt felt by Katie and how she overcompensated by being overprotective of her own daughter and had a complex relationship with her own mother.

Alex North can spin a great story and this third novel keeps up the high standard set by his two previous offerings. Solid characterisation, a complex plot which comes together deliciously slowly, and flashbacks to the mind of a madman are all great highlights. However, Katie was the real star, The Half-Burnt House pulls a woman who already has personal problems and dumps her in a world which is a million miles away from her normal suburban life.

The Half-Burnt House is released in the USA as The Angel Maker.

I found this to be an unusual story but confusing. It jumps back and forward in time and it is hard to know who is who’s parent. That is unfortunate because it is a potentially a good storyline. I am unable to recommend it.

I read The Whisper Man and The Shadow Friend many years ago and absolutely loved both books. Alex North has a way of marrying the psychological suspense genre with the unexplained/supernatural aspects of life in a manner that is grounded and realistic. He does the same here.

NOW - Alan Hobbes knew he was about to die. With the book he can read the past, present and future.
In 1997 Chris Shaw is horribly attacked by a mad man with a knife. His sister, Katie, was supposed to be looking after him but for one afternoon she didn’t and she’s been suffering with guilt ever since. So now when she finds out that a man called Alan Hobbes has been attacked, she realises this is her chance to help her brother. Her brother who she hadn’t seen in two years…
This was a layered and intriguing book. Although at times I found it repetitive, especially the detective parts who were slow at finding leads, and while things wrap up at the end I still had some questions and felt confused. However I did find the book and the philosophical fascinating and the way the past shapes the present to be a compelling theme. A slow burn about the traumas of the past and secrets buried.

Well that was a ride!
If you love going backwards and forwards past and present with multiple characters that eventually all tie in together at the end like I do then you will love this!
Love Alex North writing style and some great characters in this book.
It’s one of those books you sort of know where it’s going but with all the little sub plots and characters thrown in it still keeps you on your toes.
Definitely recommend! Great read

This book is fantastic. Intriguing and dramatic. Great atmospheric ambiance and a very good story. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more by Alex North.

A complex, intricately plotted thriller by a talented author but sadly it wasn’t for me. I found it quite slow and it darted between time lines so it was hard to see how it was coming together. I didn’t become involved with the characters or the many plot lines. It did become more exciting towards the end at which point I became more engaged with the book, but overall I was disappointed.

Thanks to. Michael Joseph for an early ARC in return for an honest review,

I enjoyed this but found it quite slow in parts. I'd previously read the whisper man so was really excited to read this newest book but it was a bit of a let down from the last book. In saying that, it still had plenty twists and turns and so many threads that I literally had no clue how it would all piece together, but it did and it did so perfectly. If you like the slower paced, more complex thrillers then you will love this

Ever since The Whisper Man a new Alex North book is a cause for excitement.

The Half Burnt House features a mysterious and brutal murder at the centre of a sprawling saga that spans the decades. There are quite a few characters to keep track of and multiple plot strands.

There are philosophical ramblings about Determinism. Past, present and futures and predetermined fates.

Katie and her estranged brother Chris and their troubled relationship was quite involving. There were sections that grabbed me but overall I found it a fairly slow book to read.

Sorry to say this really wasn't one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley, and Penguin Random House,and the Author Alex North for an early copy of this book...


This is the first book I've read from this author, Katie has a younger brother Chris who was attacked and scarred.years later not spoken to each other and another case of Alan Hobbes is murdered is there a connection with her brother? Not keen on books that are confusing and then connect just my preference..like more of continued story..my rating is 3.5 star rating as it was good but not exciting enough for me..


Will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon UK.

I really enjoyed this book it was well written with an utterly compelling storyline and well developed characters. The pacing was perfect and it was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. A great read.

I absolutely raced through The Half Burnt House, which is ingeniously plotted. I’m leery of giving too many details, as any spoilers could, well, spoil the reading experience. Definitely one of my favourite thrillers I’ve read this year: highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this one.
It had the right mix of creepy , tense and not knowing where the hell it was going, or how the threads tie together.
Then there's added bonus of house with a history and serial killer.
The pacing was spot on too.
Solid, likeable characters .
My favourite so far by this author.

The half burnt house belongs to professor Alan Hobbs, his body is found in the house, but has been murdered. Chris Shaw is seen leaving the premises and holding something in his hands. Chris was attacked as a teen and left with dramatic facial injuries. His sister, Katie hasn’t seen Chris lately after he spiralled into drugs and crime after his attack. Now Katie is determined to help her brother as she feels guilty over his childhood attack.
A rollercoaster ride of a book, slowing down then picking up again. Another fine book by a talented writer.