A review by artemishi
The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi

challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

I'm going to have to forego reviewing this per the CAWPILE method, because I finished it 2 weeks before writing this, and I just don't have a sharp enough memory to break things down. But I can tell you this: I really liked it. The Whisperer is translated from its original Italian (I think?) and because of that, some of the conversational pacing can feel odd. However, there's a real gem in non-English thrillers in that the author's expectation of how things unfold and what a reader finds satisfying tend to surprise our expectations. 

The murders are grim and dark, the cops are always one step behind (which becomes more suspicious, the deeper the novel goes), and the story of the MC unfolds as the serial killer mystery she's helping investigates unfolds. You know I like my thrillers psychologically dark and twisty, and this one has that in spades. The MC also thinks she's a sociopath (no empathy), which I found fascinating because I, too, went through a "am I incapable of empathy" exploration of myself. And, of course, every character in here is morally grey. 

The author has clearly studied criminology, and the afterword has a nicely laid out explanation for the backbone of the Big Bad in the novel. It's based off several real events, which gave me chills, but even when the danger feels impossibly cunning, the MC's social awkwardness keeps the story from becoming too impossible. 

Overall, I recommend it for fans of psychological thrillers and serial killers. I know I'll be continuing the series, if I can find it in English, because I really connected with Mila and want to see how this cat-and-mouse game unfolds.