The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: A Novel

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

Oliver and Amanda visit where the Assembly occurred. Luxury apartments have replaced the warehouse, but they find recently painted symbols like those at the Assembly. When Oliver has a dizzy spell, Amanda suggests that he is sensitive to the location’s “negative energy.” Oliver dismisses the idea, saying that he responds badly to caffeine and that the barista must have mistakenly given him caffeinated coffee. Afterward, Oliver recounts his traumatic experience working with the “mad squaddie.” The soldier disliked the first draft of the book and became aggressive. Oliver believes that the “mad squaddie” is responsible for the silent calls he receives at 4:44 each morning. Amanda confronts Oliver about his behavior when they were trainee journalists. She claims that Oliver was jealous because she was more talented despite being younger and uneducated. Oliver tells Amanda to “get over” it. 

Amanda replies to David Polneath, declining his help as an assistant. However, she offers to acknowledge him in her book if he has any useful contacts. She sends a similar message to Cathy-June Lloyd from the Cold & Unsolved Murder Club. David says that he has information, but they must meet in person.