Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Whisper Man by Alex North

50 reviews

issymaae's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Blood

abernathy_33's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Blood

rosie_valadez's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Blood

haileyhardcover's review against another edition

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. 

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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

crawforl's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Stalking

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Whisper Man is an extremely dark story that follows the victims of an infamous serial k!ller. 

Tom and his young son, Jake, just moved into a new house in a new town after the death of Tom's wife. The house is a little creepy, but they're hoping it will offer them a fresh start. What the pair did not realize is that their new town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, Frank Carter, nicknamed "the Whisper Man" for his creepy tactics to lure his victims, was arrested for abducting and murdering five people. Right as Tom and Jake are getting settled, a young boy vanishes, and the case is eerily similar to the ones twenty years ago. To make matters worse, Jake starts to hear whispering at his window. 

There were parts where the plot dragged a bit and others where more tension and suspense would've been helpful, but overall, I thought the author told the story quite well. I was invested in the main characters and their connection to each other as well as their connection to the town and its dark history. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Blood

e11iphant's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Bullying

an adult male stalker towards young boys about 6-7

judassilver's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer and Abandonment

Minor: Stalking

fiction_addiction_1994's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

'The Whisper Man'  by Alex North
Genre: fiction, mystery
355 pgs
First Published: June 13, 2019
Triggers: parent death, alcoholism, domestic abuse (mention), cancer (mention)
🍂🍂🍂🍂
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•What did I think of this book? (Mult POV)
I think this was a great read, slow leading up, but lots of twists. You can't live in fear, but knowing it's there and how we approach it is how we're different. Tom and Jake Kennedy move to a new house in a new town, not everything is as it seems old ghosts follow and new fears come out. As the whole town thought it was safe as one killer is behind bars. Not all killers and monsters linger in the dark. As ine dead boy shows up and Jake hears things..I'm glad I finished this book.
•Quotes:
~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. ~p.90

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

catriona176's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not massively sure about Christopher Eccleston’s narration and the ending felt a bit underwritten but otherwise this is a pretty solid detective thriller. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Domestic abuse