**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** “WORKS BEAUTIFULLY… If you like being terrified, The Whisper Man has your name on it.” –The New York Times, Editor’s Pick “SUPERB” –Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review “BRILLIANT… will satisfy readers of Thomas Harris and Stephen King.” –Booklist, Starred Review “POIGNANT AND TERRIFYING” –Entertainment Weekly In this dark, suspenseful … Starred Review
“POIGNANT AND TERRIFYING”
—Entertainment Weekly
In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.
After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town. Featherbank.
But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed “The Whisper Man,” for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.
Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter’s crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.
And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window…
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4.5 rounded up. So spooky!
I have to say, I couldn’t even have guessed who actually did what!
Great read, a little bit of paranormal and that was actually shocking to see who the little girl was.
My first read by Alex and now I’m looking for more. Like I said I hadn’t a clue as to who committed what crime and how the person actually did it. That was great, mystery and thriller.
This kind of shows to talk to your kids and LISTEN to what they tell you.
Make and his dad had a lot in common and they just didn’t click for awhile. Once everything came out and Tom knew in his gut what was going on. Jake and him become one! Loved it
20 years ago, five young boys were kidnapped and murdered in the town of Featherbank. The killer became known as The Whisper Man because his victims were known to have heard someone whispering outside their windows in the time before they were kidnapped. Although Detective Pete Willis was able to find the killer, Frank Carter, he never found the body of the 5th victim, Tony Smith. The case haunts Pete to this day and he still spends his time searching the town on his walks, hoping that he will be able to find Tony’s body. Pete visits Frank Carter in jail once a year, hoping for answers that will most likely never come.
Now, Neil Spencer has gone missing and the town of Featherbank is facing its worst nightmare once again. Frank Carter is in prison but there was always a concern that he had an apprentice in the past. Detective Amanda Beck is living the same nightmare Pete Willis did 20 years ago and the case has brought Pete back to that time. Pete is drawn back in, hoping his experience can help Amanda create a different outcome this time.
Tom Kennedy and his son, Jake, have just moved to Featherbank for a new start after the death of Tom’s wife and Jake’s mother, Rebecca. It is immediately clear to Tom that this is not going to be the change they were hoping for. Jake’s imaginary friend is back, Jake is saying scary things and behaving strangely and Tom senses an ominous presence in the house. As the characters are drawn together into a nightmare, secrets are revealed and the book hurtles toward a climactic finale.
This book was so creepy and terrifying that I had to stop reading it at night. I would have finished it in a day if I could have kept reading. I have to admit that I walked around checking the locks on the doors and peeking in on my sleeping children, while telling myself, “It’s only a book. It’s fiction.” I was riveted from the first page and could not wait to reach the conclusion. This is a tough read if you’re a parent but it is a phenomenal, suspenseful and disturbing story. 5-star read for sure.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Great plot and the storyline is absolutely stunning. A must-read book for sure.
I think this book will be great for someone who appreciates this type of book. I think I have just gotten to a point where I only really appreciate good literary fiction or a well written non-fiction book
This book keeps you guessing! Every chapter leads to a new connection and a new discovery. At times, I was a little put off by the writer’s analogies & the ways he tried to describe certain things, but overall it wasn’t too hard to ignore and keep reading. The chapters aren’t very long, and each one is dedicated to a different character. I love when writers do that. Definitely an interesting story and one that I feel isn’t too far fetched from a possible reality.
“If you leave a door open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken.” – chilling vibes.
Emotional trauma and evil can be passed down for generations, until one generation (one way or another) says STOP. This is the story of good people and very bad people. It is a haunting story. It left me feeling the need to hug my kids tighter, of sadness, of hope.
I really enjoyed this book. It was very realistic, like a true crime fiction. I would love to read a prequel.
The story was engaging despite being somewhat predictable. The characters were easily relatable.
I was pleased with this read and would definitely suggest others to read it too.
#thewhisperman #alexnorth #bookstagram #bookreview #4star #lallahbookreview #readinginlallahland
This was very well done. This book got my attention after reading a few really favorable reviews. Once I looked a little further, I decided that this was my kind of book and decided that I needed to read it. This was a book that hooked me rather quickly and was rather hard to put down at times. I had a really good time with this story and am really glad that I decided to give it a try.
Tom is trying to move on with his life after the loss of his wife. It is now just him and his son, Jake, and Jake is not dealing with the loss very well. Tom decides that moving into a new house is the step they need. Meanwhile, a boy in town disappears and the details are incredibly similar to the events twenty years earlier when “The Whisper Man” terrorized the community.
I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. I thought that the mystery was rather complex and I couldn’t wait to see how all of the pieces would end up coming together. I was never exactly sure how things would work out and I found myself working along with the characters to try to piece things together. There were plenty of surprises and I enjoyed the fact that the book kept me guessing until the end.
I thought that the characters were well done. Tom and Jake were hurting from their loss at the start of the story. Most of the book is told from Tom’s point of view and I really liked that we got to see his doubts and concerns. In addition, we also get to know some of the detectives working on the case. I didn’t agree with everything that these characters did in the story but they seemed very real to me. They were flawed but trying to make their life better.
I thought that Christopher Eccleston did a great job with the narration of this book. I think that I enjoyed the book just a bit more because of his performance. He did a great job with the character voices and I thought that he was able to add a lot of emotion into his reading. He had a very pleasant voice that was easy to listen to for hours at a time.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This was a very well done and rather complex mystery that grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of Alex North’s work in the future.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Celadon Books via Bookish First and I borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Ok
is this book a thriller? Yes. Did it terrify me? Yes, at times. But the most moving part of this story was the family dynamics. Packed with emotions the story was heart felt. Well done.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The Whisper Man is a hybrid of mystery, suspense, thriller and supernatural. Tom Kennedy’s wife died about a year ago, and he and his young son, Jake, move to a new house in a new town for a new beginning. Unfortunately, they picked the town where a serial killer, The Whisper Man, preyed on young boys. While The Whisper Man has been in prison for the last 20 years, another little boy has disappeared. Add to that, they bought the so-called Scary House and now Jake hears someone whispering to him in the night. Is there an accomplice?
The story is definitely character-driven. Narration switches between Tom, Jake, the police, the suspects, the killer. The writing is solid and doesn’t rely on graphic violence. It is much more subtle, letting your imagination give you the creeps. The characters are well-developed, real-life people. Jake is a loner with just one friend, an imaginary girl. But how does an imaginary girl know the things she knows?
What I didn’t seem to care much for is that there is a lot of redundancy. Tom doubts his fatherly skills, repeatedly, and the policeman from the original case is haunted by the fact that they were never able to find the remains of one boy. He is a recovering alcoholic constantly battling his urge to drink again.
While this was a very creepy tale with some chilling scenes, I’m not sure I agree with all the 5-star reviews I’ve seen. It plodded along at times and, quite honestly, there was never an edge of my seat moment. There are a few plot twists, but you could almost see them coming. It was a good story and well-written, but I just don’t get all the hype. I do see this being a movie.
“If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken.
If you play outside alone, soon you won’t be going home.
If your window’s left unlatched, you’ll hear him tapping at the glass.
If you’re lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.”
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Seriously one of my favorite books this year! Thrilling, gripping, unpredictable and perfectly played! The premise was haunting, as we discover a local boy gone missing in a small community, seemingly similar to missing children from the past. Tom and his son Jake work to fit into their new town after the sudden death of Tom’s wife. Raising Jake on his own while dealing with his own grief, Tom works hard to deal with some of the odd behavior Jake begins to display, especially when it seems connected to the recent boy gone missing. A taut, intriguing storyline that made me gasp in disbelief at times and kept my attention until the very last page. I can’t wait for more from this author – a true artist in his craft of words into a story – it ends where it begins.
This is the story of Tom Kennedy and his son Jake. Tom’s wife has just tragically died, and Tom thinks a fresh start is in order. He moves himself and his young son to a town called Featherbank. He is hoping his son – who is quiet, withdrawn, and seems to have an imaginary friend that he continually talks to – will start to thrive in a new environment.
What Tom doesn’t know is that Featherbank has a dark past. 20 years ago, a serial killer was kidnapping children, and murdering them. The killer was nicknamed “The Whisper Man” because he was lure his victims out by whispering to them. The killer was caught, and is behind bars, and the town feels like it could move on.
But after Tom and Jake move into their home, Jake starts to hear Whispers in his own home. A young boy disappears, and the crime is almost identical to The Whisper Man crimes in the past. Local detectives are now racing the clock to save the young boy, and figure out who is committing the copy cat crime from so long ago.
This is a pretty good book. I am a fan of horror books, so after seeing this book on instagram, I wanted to check it out. And for the most part it was scary. I kept reading because I wanted to see where it was going. There were chilling chapters, and suspenseful moments that made me jump if someone came into the room while I was reading. Be warned – this book involves the abduction and murder of young children, and while not overly graphic, it is still the premise of the story.
The only downfall I would say is that it would build and build to a really scary scenario, and then fall short. Was it scary? YES. Could the book have taken it to the next level and truly pushed the boundaries of a scary novel? YES. It is hard to put my finger on it, but I would be gripping the book, reading a certain scene that was building to a suspenseful situation, and then everything would work out. You breathe a sigh of relief, of course, but it also left me wanting more.
Is it worth a read? Definitely. I am glad I read it, and I look forward to seeing more from this author in this genre.
Great book. Look forward to reading this author’s next book
I was a little disappointed . I really hate to be able to figure out who the bad guys are and what actually happened too soon.
The disappearance of young Neil Spencer seems a little too familiar to DI Pete Willis, who remains tortured by the missing body of a child from one of his cases decades prior. The Whisper Man, by Alex North (the author’s name is an alias), is a new thriller that combines elements of the classic copycat serial killer storyline with an added hint of the paranormal. Even though he managed to capture the murderous “Whisper Man,” Willis can’t escape the guilt he feels for being unable to get closure. His attempts to get the convicted killer to reveal the location of his last victim only allows the murderer to torment him and reinforces Willis’ sense of failure. His internal struggles and continuous battle against the addictions that cost him everything make Willis a layered and realistic character. In a parallel story arc, Jake is a contemplative and creative boy whose imaginary friends seem to be more ghostly and tragic than typical playmates. Tom, his novelist father, moves them to Featherbank after the accidental death of Jake’s mother. This ineffective attempt is meant to help them both heal by removing themselves from the site of their painful memories. Their new house is deeply connected to the old Whisper Man case, however, and they soon become the target of a new killer whose MO is a mirror of the original. With a crafty imprisoned psychopath with inside knowledge and a misunderstood child/medium, the uncanny coincidences in this thrilling book may be a bit too reminiscent of plotlines from the Silence of the Lambs and “The Sixth Sense.” Still, North’s novel contains twists and reveals that remain surprisingly fresh, shocking and effective. The interior glimpse of the murderer’s mind is cleverly portrayed, and the characters are well-written and genuine. With weighty themes including the “sins of the father”, the destructive effects of addiction and abandonment, and redemption through forgiveness and selflessness, The Whisper Man manages to be an above average offering in an otherwise overcrowded genre.
Thanks to the author, NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
This book was SOOOO hyped and while it did live up to it, it didn’t at the same time.
Okay, as a lot of my fellow bloggers have said, the creep factor was there! So yes it will give you goosebumps, but it won’t keep you up at night.
I liked the characters! I enjoyed the relationships and how each POV was represented with the different narrators in each chapter. There was one instance that completely floored me.
Speaking of the chapters- they were crazy short! Like 3 pages tops. I read like 10 in one sitting and felt über accomplished.
Despite it being a thriller (the last 150 pages… like wow), I teared up multiple times. All the different father-son relationships in this book were on display and felt real. Plus that last sentence!?!?!?
Now why I deducted half a star. I didn’t know the murderer for a good while- like not even an inkling. But I eventually figured it out and when I did I felt like screaming ‘IT’S HIM’.
There was also a character or two who I deduced their true intentions right away. That didn’t stop me from tearing up when it was explained tho.
This is going to be a movie directed by The Russo Brothers (Of Avengers: Endgame and Captain America fame). So I can’t wait!
Oh and I REALLY hate butterflies now.
Tom and his young son Jake move to a new town looking for a fresh start after the death of his wife. A child is kidnapped and it brings up a closed case from 20 years ago due to similarities. Two detectives work tirelessly to find the boy. All the while Tom is trying to figure out how to relate to his young son in their new life.
Overall this was a good book but I really struggled to get into the beginning. I wasn’t sucked into the story I just felt like I was being told a story. So at no point did I feel scared but their were some places it was creepy. I think Jake was my favorite character as he was the most real and relatable. Not too bad for a debut novel I would read the author again.
A psychological thriller with a tinge of horror!
This first paragraph grabbed my attention and I was hooked!
“The abduction of a child by a stranger is every parent’s worst nightmare. But statistically it is a highly unusual event. Children are actually most at risk of harm and abuse from a family member behind closed doors, and while the outside world might seem threatening, the truth is that most strangers are decent people, whereas the home can be the most dangerous place of all.”
This book and the author’s writing gave me chills. It won’t easily be forgotten! North did an amazing job of bringing the eerie and dark Whisper Man to life.
“If you’re lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.”
A young boy who finds his mother dead at the bottom of their stairs…after she dies suddenly. A father trying his best to parent, through his depression and feelings of inadequacy. These rich and wonderful characters grabbed a hold of my heart!
It’s time for Jake and his father to move on with their life. A fresh start and a new house without sad memories. But did they pick the house…or did the house pick them?
Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books and Alex North for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 5 ’s
Published: August 20th 2019 by Celadon Books
Pages: 368
Recommend: Yes!