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haileyhardcover's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy crap this book was CHILLING. A serial killer who goes after kids is always going to be especially horrific, but North did an incredible job building up the anxiety as you realize the real horror of the situation at the same time as the characters do. There’s a really interesting supernatural element to the story (or, is there?) but by and large it is, unfortunately, an entirely plausible story which makes it all the more terrifying. At the end of one chapter in particular, my heart was beating out of my chest! No book has ever scared me like this one did.
There are also several reveals throughout the course of the story. Though a couple seemed a little obvious to me, there was one specific one where my jaw very literally, almost comically, DROPPED.
There are also deeper tones to The Whisper Man. Beyond the thrills and the horror, the story examines the complexity of father-son relationships from multiple, vastly different angles. It also does a great job of portraying the on-going battle of addition recovery (specifically alcoholism, but I think the portrayal would translate well to any addiction) and what the daily struggle to remain sober can look like for many.
I am giving this book five stars because, at the end of the day, it has accomplished what no book ever REALLY has and legitimately scared me, so it feels deserved; but I don’t think I would say it’s perfect. Listen, I award my stars how I want to. Deal with it!
The story jumps between five different points of view, which can be a little confusing at times, especially when you’re not always immediately sure whose point of view you’re reading. One point of view is Jake’s, and it did occur to me as I was reading that I don’t think North accounted for how differently a child might think and process these situations. There was a point when it was acknowledged that Jake had a better grasp on vocabulary than most other kids his age, which I think was a way of addressing this disparity, but it felt a little off to me. I also felt like the book had a slower start. While the first chapter gets your blood pumping, it slows down pretty considerably and for quite a few chapters after that. It’s all important story building, but the first third of the book or so is a little slow. Still, the chapters are short (often 3-4 pages!) so it is an easy one to binge and get through pretty quick!
If you have children or kiddos that you love in your life, keep in mind that this one is going to be a tough and terrifying read, but it is still really good and I absolutely recommend it. It’s one that is going to sit with me… probably forever.
If you have children or kiddos that you love in your life, keep in mind that this one is going to be a tough and terrifying read, but it is still really good and I absolutely recommend it. It’s one that is going to sit with me… probably forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Abandonment
waywardtomes's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Torture
sheryl_macca's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Only one author had ever made me feel genuinely scared while reading and that's Stephen King. Alex North has made it two authors. North was someone I knew nothing about but I was looking for books from the library with a Halloween flavour and The Whisper Man fit the bill, especially since missing persons is a favourite trope of mine.
It hits a number of typical fear factor notes, most with subtlety; the supernatural, unexplained events, haunted house, being alone in the dark, stranger danger, nightmares, creepy kids, psychopath prisoners etc. What truly disturbed me, and disturbed is the right word here, was the unknown predator. A deeply psychological fear where your mind creates a monster that is your very own brand of frightening. Alex North keeps that monster lurking constantly. The predator is everywhere and nowhere right up to the final chapters of the book. You never know who to trust.
What really makes this book a 5 star read, however, is the multilayered examination of parenthood. In particular, the fathers of the story have one thing in common: doubting themselves as a parent. This is a theme that usually applies to the mothers in our reads but for fathers to be open in a realistically honest way was refreshing. For there to be 3 key fathers in just one book is unusual even for one focused on parenthood for it's story. Here we have 3 key fathers in a disturbing crime novel.
I also particularly enjoyed that one of the multi POV's that narrate The Whisper Man was a very young but bright boy named Jake. He's an intelligent, inquisitive character but also so very clearly a frightened little boy. He's brave but vulnerable and I just wanted to protect him.
With a book that lives and breathes on the unknown I'm not sure it's one I'll reread which is usually my test of a 5 star review but I would 100% recommend The Whisper Man to others to read at any time of year. I'm definitely going to be looking for Alex North in the future.
It hits a number of typical fear factor notes, most with subtlety; the supernatural, unexplained events, haunted house, being alone in the dark, stranger danger, nightmares, creepy kids, psychopath prisoners etc. What truly disturbed me, and disturbed is the right word here, was the unknown predator. A deeply psychological fear where your mind creates a monster that is your very own brand of frightening. Alex North keeps that monster lurking constantly. The predator is everywhere and nowhere right up to the final chapters of the book. You never know who to trust.
What really makes this book a 5 star read, however, is the multilayered examination of parenthood. In particular, the fathers of the story have one thing in common: doubting themselves as a parent. This is a theme that usually applies to the mothers in our reads but for fathers to be open in a realistically honest way was refreshing. For there to be 3 key fathers in just one book is unusual even for one focused on parenthood for it's story. Here we have 3 key fathers in a disturbing crime novel.
I also particularly enjoyed that one of the multi POV's that narrate The Whisper Man was a very young but bright boy named Jake. He's an intelligent, inquisitive character but also so very clearly a frightened little boy. He's brave but vulnerable and I just wanted to protect him.
With a book that lives and breathes on the unknown I'm not sure it's one I'll reread which is usually my test of a 5 star review but I would 100% recommend The Whisper Man to others to read at any time of year. I'm definitely going to be looking for Alex North in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, and Blood
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