talonvictoria's review
5.0
The best thing that could ever happen to me when I am reading a thriller novel is that the author makes it seem so real and believable for me. And that is just what Alex North did. If I wasn't already hooked after I read The Shadows-- I definitely am now! Every time I turned the page in The Whisper Man, it was just so well written that it felt like more than just a made up story.
The father / son relationship dynamic really felt good to me. It wasn't perfect and for that reason alone I was enthralled with how this novel would play out between these two characters. By the time it had ended, I was not disappointed in any way.
The Whisper Man is an excellent book with some super creepy moments that will give you chills and the fact that this was Alex North's debut novel makes this even more impressive. I feel as if when it comes to thrillers I am getting pickier-- but The Whisper Man was honestly the most perfect read for me.
The father / son relationship dynamic really felt good to me. It wasn't perfect and for that reason alone I was enthralled with how this novel would play out between these two characters. By the time it had ended, I was not disappointed in any way.
The Whisper Man is an excellent book with some super creepy moments that will give you chills and the fact that this was Alex North's debut novel makes this even more impressive. I feel as if when it comes to thrillers I am getting pickier-- but The Whisper Man was honestly the most perfect read for me.
booknerdfoodie's review
5.0
This book was VERY good! Lots of twists and turns and it kept me at the edge of my seat pretty much through the whole book.
sacrificebyfire's review
5.0
4.5 stars.
Several “oh, shit” moments. Wish there had been a greater (strong) female presence in the book, but still outstanding nonetheless.
Several “oh, shit” moments. Wish there had been a greater (strong) female presence in the book, but still outstanding nonetheless.
mostlywright's review
4.0
So much hype for this book! I really enjoyed it, excellent mystery and I devoured it in one day. But not the terrifying thriller I had been prepared for. I would absolutely recommend as this is a great story and perfect for suspence/mystery lovers.
whizalen's review
5.0
This was really good, psychological thriller mystery. Not the easiest subject material but well written and a well constructed story
acoldwintersread's review against another edition
5.0
I’d say 4.5-5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! I’m normally not a big fan of thrillers, they just don’t do it for me, but this one was eerie and atmospheric, and Christopher Eccleston narrating the audiobook lulls you into a false sense of security! It wasn’t super suspenseful for me, but I really loved the characters and their relationships and the whole creepy vibe of the book is perfect for autumn. It’s a nice quick read, easily bingeable (nice, short chapters).
I highly recommend the audiobook, especially if you’re a fan of Doctor Who!!
I highly recommend the audiobook, especially if you’re a fan of Doctor Who!!
ampersandread22's review
4.0
Read this and other reviews at Ampersand Read.
There is a Criminal Minds episode where Agent Rossi must visit a serial killer in prison every year on his birthday to get the names and locations of two more bodies (sorry not sorry I just ruined a season 12 plot point if you haven’t already seen it). That was the first thing I thought of when I read the description of The Whisper Man. The “serial killer will only talk to the man who caught him”seems to be a bit of a trope: Silence of the Lambs features it too.
But that concept was just one tiny, misshapen puzzle piece in the 1,000-piece Ravensburger that is this book.
The story is told in alternating points of view: a young father who moves into the town’s resident “creepy house” with his son after the tragic death of his wife, the head detective from the original Whisper Man case, and short, bizarre, creepy chapters from the perspective of the current killer. Tom – the young father narrator – comes across a little pedantic sometimes. His is a narration of telling rather than showing: it is repeated that he feels a “presence” in his new house, that he feels he is “not alone.” It got me rolling my eyes a couple of times, but the book still had me turning pages to find out the next twist.
I think it’s probably a good thing that I don’t focus primarily on mysteries and thrillers in my reading. I would get absolutely nothing done with the rest of my life. If the plot is good, as The Whisper Man’s is, and the clues well placed and the twists unforeseeable, I will sit tight and not put the story down for anything. This book had twists I genuinely did not see coming, that I gasped aloud for. And perhaps more notably, the story got me with its numerous red herrings. There were several clues/characters/points in the plot that I thought were secretly nefarious and/or Significantly Important and they just…weren’t. Sometimes a pen is just a pen. Sometimes a creepy mask is just a Halloween decoration.
The well-timed reveals and my guesses of whodunnit had me reading this creepy tale long after I should have turned out the lights and gotten some shuteye for work the next day. And while the last line of the novel was not as knockout chilling as other reviews led me to believe, I have still recommended this to friends and family who also like a good serial killer tale to spice up their reading lives.
(Also, this book was apparently inspired by the author’s son, who “mentioned one day that he was playing with ‘the boy in the floor.’” If that didn’t clue you in to how creepy this read is, nothing can save you.)
There is a Criminal Minds episode where Agent Rossi must visit a serial killer in prison every year on his birthday to get the names and locations of two more bodies (sorry not sorry I just ruined a season 12 plot point if you haven’t already seen it). That was the first thing I thought of when I read the description of The Whisper Man. The “serial killer will only talk to the man who caught him”seems to be a bit of a trope: Silence of the Lambs features it too.
But that concept was just one tiny, misshapen puzzle piece in the 1,000-piece Ravensburger that is this book.
The story is told in alternating points of view: a young father who moves into the town’s resident “creepy house” with his son after the tragic death of his wife, the head detective from the original Whisper Man case, and short, bizarre, creepy chapters from the perspective of the current killer. Tom – the young father narrator – comes across a little pedantic sometimes. His is a narration of telling rather than showing: it is repeated that he feels a “presence” in his new house, that he feels he is “not alone.” It got me rolling my eyes a couple of times, but the book still had me turning pages to find out the next twist.
I think it’s probably a good thing that I don’t focus primarily on mysteries and thrillers in my reading. I would get absolutely nothing done with the rest of my life. If the plot is good, as The Whisper Man’s is, and the clues well placed and the twists unforeseeable, I will sit tight and not put the story down for anything. This book had twists I genuinely did not see coming, that I gasped aloud for. And perhaps more notably, the story got me with its numerous red herrings. There were several clues/characters/points in the plot that I thought were secretly nefarious and/or Significantly Important and they just…weren’t. Sometimes a pen is just a pen. Sometimes a creepy mask is just a Halloween decoration.
The well-timed reveals and my guesses of whodunnit had me reading this creepy tale long after I should have turned out the lights and gotten some shuteye for work the next day. And while the last line of the novel was not as knockout chilling as other reviews led me to believe, I have still recommended this to friends and family who also like a good serial killer tale to spice up their reading lives.
(Also, this book was apparently inspired by the author’s son, who “mentioned one day that he was playing with ‘the boy in the floor.’” If that didn’t clue you in to how creepy this read is, nothing can save you.)
cemiles17's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted more in this book. I felt like I was left hanging at all the important moments. I was looking for more shock and suspense. Good premise to this story but probably one that won’t stick with me.