**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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“If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken.”
Pete Willis is a hardworking, but haunted, Detective Inspector who is best known for his capture of Frank Carter, “The Whisper Man,” twenty years ago. Tom Kennedy is an author who has just moved to Featherbank with Jake, his son, looking for a fresh start after the death of his wife. When a child goes missing rumors begin to swirl about Frank Carter and the possibility of an accomplice. DI Willis, determined to get to the bottom of the case, finds himself crossing paths with Tom and Jake in a series of events that will greatly impact all of their lives.
The Whisper Man is a page-turning thriller that refuses to let go. The chapters are on the shorter side which, along with the changing narrators, creates an extremely suspenseful story that I found difficult to put down. The characters are capable of creating some rather intense and varying emotions within the reader as they, in the midst of trying to solve (or get away with) a crime, put the question of nature versus nurture to the test.
The Whisper Man comes out August 20th! Go get it or you may hear a whisper outside your window.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for an ARC of The Whisper Man by Alex North given in exchange for an honest review.
***I received a free copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily giving an honest review***
I loved this murder mystery. It reminded me of a Law & Order: SVU episode arc. Jake’s father was raising him alone. They were practically strangers before his wife had committed suicide. I felt bad for the both of them. In order to try and rebuild life, they moved to Featherbank where strange things started happening.
Meanwhile, detectives were searching for a missing child named Neil, around Jake’s age. The opening sentence gave me chills: The abduction of a child by a stranger is every parent’s worst nightmare.
I would have given this book 5-stars but, in some parts of the book, paragraphs weren’t indented and sometimes quotation marks weren’t used with dialogue when characters were reminiscing about past events. The wonky formatting in some places made me deduct a star.
I loved that readers got a chance to see some characters have first person point of view narration while others had third person point of view. I also really enjoyed all of the red herrings. I guessed correctly who the kidnapper/serial killer was. I loved the interactions with all the characters. A moment with Jake’s father and the detective Pete really touched me. I won’t spoil how they know each other. You’ll have to read the book to figure out all the mysteries involved. The plot played out really well, especially the ending.
My favorite lines: 1) It stemmed from a desire to be seen. To be noticed. To be loved. 2) The whole world seemed to be sleeping peacefully in exactly the way I wasn’t. 3) It felt like our home had started dying when Rebecca did. But then, she had always been the heart of it.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
Wow! The last 120 pages I couldn’t / wouldn’t put down. That’s not to say the rest of the book wasn’t just as good, but I was intent on finishing this. A serial child abductor/killer, caught and put behind bars for 20 years. The cop that put him away still haunted by the child that is still missing. A father and son, who in the wake of the loss of the wife/mother, try to start over. A new disappearance of a child. How do all of storylines connect? That is what had me on the edge of my seat. Although I am not sure how I feel about the last chapter, mixed emotions for sure, this was a great read. I am only rating this as 4-stars because of that last chapter. Not that there was anything wrong with it. The ending can be interpreted a couple ways and that is where I am hung up.
What an intense, compelling, dark read Alex North has given us in The Whisper Man!! Caution for readers who cannot tolerate reading about violence against children, you’ll want to skip this book. For the rest of you, hang on to your seat because you are in for one heck of a read!!
Pete Willis, DI, 56, has been haunted for two decades because of his inability to find the body of the last victim, Tony Smith, of the serial killer known as The Whisper Man. The killer earned his name because he would target young boys, and whisper to them at night to get them to come with him. He was convicted and is currently in prison.
Now another young boy has disappeared in Featherbanks. Amanda Beck, DI, enlists the help of Pete Willis due to similarities with The Whisper Man case. Rumors fly through the town again that The Whisper Man had an accomplice, and that the killings have begun again.
Thomas Kennedy and his young son Jake have recently moved to Featherbanks, hoping to start life anew ten months after the sudden death of Rebecca, beloved wife and mother. They buy a house that Jake seems drawn to. Thomas finds it a bit creepy, but after viewing it a couple of times decides to buy it, hoping it will help Jake heal. Only after purchasing it, does he find out that there’s a history to the house, and not a good one. It doesn’t take long before strange things start occurring. He hears Jake whispering to someone, knowing things about the house that he couldn’t possibly know. Is Jake at risk?
I love how each of the characters is fleshed out – they are realistic, and relatable (well, except for the Whisper Man – it’s hard to relate to him!). I also like the intricate intertwining of events from the past and current day, the way the author throws in unexpected twists, and the ever-increasing tension of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
Wow!! 5/5 stars from me! The Whisper Man is a debut novel written by Alex North, releasing on August 20, 2019 and I highly recommend reading this if you enjoy thriller, suspenseful, creepy, page turning storylines. This is a very well written, well thought out book. I personally liked how the story keeps you from wondering what’s going to happen next, the way certain things relate to each other and the way characters intertwine with each other. There are many different point of views written in short chapters which I also like as it makes easier stopping points, even though it’s hard to put this book down!
The Whisper Man is hands down one of the best books I’ve read! I am looking forward to more books coming from Alex North in the future.
Thank you to Celadon Books for an advanced readers copy in place of my honest review.
Tom and his young son Jake move to Featherbank. The Whisper Man is a serial killer that is currently in jail. 20 years ago, he terrorized the small town. When a new child abduction happens, the town is terrorized again worried about a copy cat murderer. The detective from the Whisper Man murders is still on the force and he has a connection to Tom. This was a good twisty thriller and I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on with the story. It has a lot of twists and turns, secrets, and quirky characters. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me an ARC of this book to review. This review is not in any way influenced by the author or publisher.
“The Whisper Man” is Alex North’s first suspense/thriller novel. There are some disturbing themes in it.
Set in the UK, “The Whisper Man”, has several alternating points of view (POV) – Tom Kennedy, his son Jake, Detective Inspector (DI) Pete Willis. It even takes a POV of the kidnapper and killer. The story is told over six parts.
The book gets its name from the nickname of a serial child kidnapper/killer called the “Whisper Man” due to the fact he would stalk his victims and whisper at their windows prior to their abduction.
The book begins with the abduction of a child – Neil Spencer, just like the ones some 20 years before. And, DI Willis has some experience there – he was the one who put “The Whisper Man” away, also known as Frank Carter. Spencer volunteers in the search for Neil, to no avail. Willis is also haunted by the fact that the body of one of Carter’s victims was never found. It cost him his marriage and his own child.
The man who haunts and taunts Pete is the one man who can assist the DI. Carter speaks more or less in riddles, but ones that Pete usually figures out or should.
As that is going on, Tom Kennedy (a recent widower) decides that he and his son Jake need a fresh start. Interestingly it is Jake who picks the house in Featherbank after seeing it online. And, Tom hopes that once they move, his son’s imaginary friend (a little girl) will go away. Jake starts off at the new school in the yellow zone with his behavior.
But, weird things begin to happen to Tom – his son talks about a boy in the floor, butterflies, and then there is the strange rhyme. Jakes claims to have learned the rhyme from his imaginary friend:
“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.”
Tom has no idea what it means or how Jake could’ve learned it.
After a near break-in, Tom investigates his garage and makes a gruesome discovery – one that connects with his own past and the past of DI Willis.
Jake starts hearing “whispers”. Tom already feels inadequate as a parent and wonders what, if anything, he can do to right the course. Tom will also have to come to grips with his relationship with his father.
At the heart of this novel, there is an underlying tone of the father-son dynamics and relationships.
I was surprised by Tom’s father as well as who Jake’s imaginary friend turns out to be. The new killer wasn’t much of a surprise. After reading it, it was almost a given as to who it was. It did make sense and kept the story connected.
I found the storyline to be a cross between “Silence of the Lambs” with a hint of the Slender Man Urban Legend. This book is terrifying, riveting, and a page-turner. It was an interesting read and managed to keep my attention from beginning to end. It was hard not to want to skip ahead to see the outcome.
For those who enjoyed “Silence of the Lambs” or movies/books of that genre – I would recommend the book. For those triggered by child abductions, child murder, serial killers – I wouldn’t recommend this book.
“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 windows left unlatched, you’ll hear him tapping at the glass.
If you’re lonely, sad, and blue the Whisper Man will come for you.”
What a wonderfully creepy book! Alex North has outdone himself with his debut novel.
A boy is missing and it has all the markings of a copy cat of a serial kidnapper and killer of twenty years ago, who is currently in jail. Tom is doing everything he can to protect his son Jake, who has begun to hear whispers at his window.
I look forward to more novels by this author! I won this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway.
Tom Kennedy, a grieving widower, believes a fresh start is just what he and his son Jake need. The town of Featherbank holds promise for Jake, a sensitive and creative child still struggling with discovering his mother’s body. However as tranquil Featherbank seems now, it holds a dark past. Twenty years earlier a serial killer terrorized the town – abducting and murdering children after luring them from their homes by whispering at their windows. The Whisper Man was caught, but people have never forgotten Frank Carter’s heinous crimes.
And now a new threat has arisen. Just before Tom and Jake move in, another little boy went missing. Detectives Pete Willis and Amanda Beck must revisit Carter’s crimes and work tirelessly to save Neil Spencer. This means Pete will have to revisit the man who has haunted him the past twenty years in the hope he will slip up and reveal an accomplice. To make matters worse, Jake has been acting oddly and hearing things that don’t seem to be there. One night Jake wakes Tom because he heard a voice whispering at his window.
The Whisper Man by Alex North, a British crime writer from Leeds, England, is an unsettling and absorbing story that you won’t be able to put down. The characters and storyline are compelling and complex. This thriller will give you chills and surprise you at every turn – a perfect storm of mystery and suspense.
The Wisper Man
Alex North
My Rating: 5 stars
Content Rating: 18+
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery-Crime
Expected Publication: August 20, 2019
I found it hard to believe that The Wisper Man is Alex North’s debut novel because this book, in my opinion, reads as a seasoned writer wrote it. The Whisper Man is well written; the characters are all skillfully developed ranging from lovable to sinister. The story is eerie, disturbing, and at times downright terrifying. This is the book that will keep you up at night.
The Whisper Man is told from multiple points of views, with some visits into the character’s pasts. The main focus of the story is on Tom Kennedy and his seven-year-old son Jake. Tom moves them to Featherbank, with the hope that the move will heal them after the abrupt death of his wife.
Twenty years ago Frank Carter abducted and murdered five young boys and was finally caught by DI Pete Willis. Unbeknownst to Tom and Jake, this small town has a dark past, and it seems that it is happening again. Is the Wisper Man back? That seems to be the question after a boy goes missing. The circumstances of his disappearance uncannily resemble the events of twenty years ago. DI Amanda Beck, the lead investigator, brings DI Willis into this case, in the hopes his experience will help her find the missing boy. I would love to tell you more about this book, but unfortunately, I am not willing to ruin all the twists, surprises, and sinister moments.
As I have mentioned this story was written from multiple POVs. One of the things that impressed me about Mr. North’s writing was how he was able to capture Jake’s character thoroughly. You felt you were in the mind of a very sensitive, creative seven-year-old. All the characters were well written and developed, but Jake was my favorite. I wanted to grab him up and give him a big momma hug.
The Whisper Man is a thrilling, suspenseful, terrifying book that you will not be able to put down. I read the entire book on the drive home from our summer vacation. Luckily most of the ride was in the daylight; I would not want to read this book after sunset. If you read one thriller this year, do not pass up The Wisper Man.
Remember,
“If you’re lonely, sad, and blue the Wisper Man will come for you.”
***I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion .***
Well this book is terrifyingly creepy. The Whisper Man will get into your nightmares. I did guess who the bad guy was early on but it was still interesting to get everyone’s point of view on this. I didn’t see one twist which I found interesting. I did like Jack’s point of view the best though I do think he talked way older then he should be able to talk. Yes it does say that he can understand at an older level then his age but he talked more like an person who has been around for year instead of a 7 year old. You will enjoy this book if you like a great thriller.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
OMG! Love! If you love thriller, creepy and get sucked in books this is the one for you!
This book just took me all the way out. ALL. THE. WAY OUT.
So many things to unfold that I can’t because I don’t like spoilers but just know that internally I’m yelling. That ending. THAT ENDING.
For me, what this book does best, is get in your head. Holy shit, does it get in your head. It doesn’t scream the scares you… It whispers them ( ha! ) and that’s worse then a big old BOO!
HUGE thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC. Easily my most favorite ARC so far.
I’ll be checking on my kids more than usual tonight LoL.
Better keep the lights on with this hauntingly good thriller
I received an ARC copy of the Whisper man from Celadon books in return for my honest opinion of the book.. This was a first time Author for me but I was taken away, Alex North is an amazing story teller who grabs your attention from page one and keeps going on the roller coaster ride of emotions with this book! A must read for all who loves a good thriller with a twist of gostly hunting story. The whisper man is #1 thriller for the summer the next boogyman who will keep you awake for nights.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This was the debut novel by Alex North, I found it to be very well written. Suspense/thrillers are one of my favorite genres, and this one was certainly a page turner. The title of the book was creepy in itself, then add in the rhyme which made it doubly so. This book kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed the backstory. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
Wow! I want to tell everyone I know to stop what they are currently reading and pick up The Whisper Man! Honestly this book had me hooked! It was so intriguing, it was full of mystery and had twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Creepy at times but that helped pull me in deeper. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great thriller that will keep them up through the night!!
Thank you @Celadon Books #TheWhisperMan #AlexNorth for my copy!!
Spine chilling!! It’s always shocking to know the minds of some authors when they write a debut novel and this one is exceptional, readers will believe that the Whisper Man is out. Prepare to want to lock your doors and keep the lights on when you read this story. Check your children to be sure they are warm in their beds, just creepy! This book is well written and detailed so much that you feel like your there. The father-son dynamic abound in the book with both victim and the villain. A little feel from the movie Sixth Sense in the way the author has Jake seeing dead children. Interesting way the author wove the death moth into the book, makes the story that more creepy. And, that poem, it may just stick with me for a long time. There is a bit of despair to learn at the end, but I feel the author needed to put a closer on the har-life Pete dealt daily with. The author also cliff hangs the ending so as a reader you can imagine the ending. I know how I feel Francis’ ending came to be.
So, normally I’m not a huge fan of books that involve crimes against children, but the blurb for this one grabbed my attention and I had to give it a shot. This one kept my nerves on edge until the very last page, and was a nail biter at times.
I don’t actually know how to describe this without giving away spoilers, but will say that the characters and plot hold up, the whodunnit isn’t always who you think.
I’m hoping for more books about certain characters, there are definitely more adventures to be told, hopefully next time I won’t want to leave all the lights on…
Tom Kennedy lost his wife and now he is trying to rebuild his life with his son Jake. Tom decides to move to Featherbank and try to engage Jake into his decision. He knows he is not the best father to Jake and their relationship is fractured but he is determined to try. What Tom doesn’t know though is that Featherbank has a history of boys disappearing and although serial killer Frank Carter was caught and put in jail another boy has disappeared and it is eerily similar to Frank Carter. Tom doesn’t realize that their new home has secrets and the legend of the Whisper Man might actually be true.
Fantastic read. Page turner that has unexpected twists until the very end. I was surprised at every turn and usually can figure out how the story will go but this story had me continually guessing where it would lead. Excellent read.
I received a free ARC of The Whisper Man by Alex North from Macmillan in an exchange for honest review.
5 stars
This book is more than a little creepy – but fascinating at the same time.
Twenty years ago Frank Carter, nicknamed “The Whisper Man” was arrested and convicted of the murder of several young boys. Detective Inspector Pete Willis was the man who arrested him and is forced to go see him in prison once a year to try to convince him to give up the location of the body of his final victim. But Carter (who will only talk to Pete), likes playing games and isn’t about to give up the site.
Now a young boy, just seven years old named Neil Sanders has gone missing. Carter knows something about it, but he isn’t talking. It is agony for Pete to talk to Carter and he has to fight his urge to drink again. In fact, the whole Neil Sanders thing has him contemplating the bottle on a daily basis. Of course, he gets sucked into the case to assist DI Amanda Beck.
Interspersed throughout the story are little vignettes from the killer’s point of view.
People are reporting their children are hearing whispers. Tom Kennedy who is a writer knows this, for he has heard it too. His son Jake is a strange boy, and has been since the death of his wife a year earlier. He talks to himself – or is he talking to himself? He doesn’t make friends. When they move to a new house (creepy house), the problems get worse. Jake shouts out that he hates his father. Jake is six years old.
Then Jake goes missing.
As Tom’s feelings of rage and helplessness increase, the police investigation moves on. Pete and Amanda come to the same conclusion about the identity of the kidnapper/killer, as does Tom at nearly the same time.
The identity of the ne’er-do-well comes as a surprise in many ways. But also, he makes a great suspect.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. I thought Tom tried very hard to get along with his son Jake and Jake is very hard to get to know. His strangeness is explained later in the book and it is a very good reason for Jake’s behavior. I really liked the idea of the reason for it all. This is my first Alex North book, but it won’t be my last. He is a very fine writer. His character development is very good and the people in his book are very lifelike and behaved true to form.
I want to thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very fine book for me to read, enjoy and review.