Today I’m incredibly excited to be posting my review for The Whisper Man as part of the blog tour – it’s one of the most exciting books I’ve read in a long time, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you…
Title: The Whisper Man
Author: Alex North
Publisher: Michael Joseph
[Synopsis]
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…
[My Review]
Wow – this thriller packs an absolute punch, easily topping my list of gripping reads so far this year. It’s sharp, eerie and completely absorbing. If you’re easily spooked then prepare yourself – you’ll be thinking about it long after you’ve finished it…
What I loved most about The Whisper Man is the way Alex North creates a novel that’s incredibly creepy but also feels worryingly realistic in other ways. And it involves a serial killer, which for me always makes a thriller more addictive to read, albeit much more disturbing…
Frank Carter – known as ‘The Whispering Man’ – abducted and killed multiple little boys, and is currently incarcerated. But when another child goes missing, the police have to consider that he may have had an accomplice.
What follows is a story told not only from the police’s perspective, like in many novels of this genre, but mostly from Tom Kennedy, who has moved to the area along with his little boy after suffering the devastating blow of losing his wife. We also follow detective Pete Wilkin as he battles his own demons, and his colleague Amanda Beck as she investigates the disappearance of another local boy, Neil Spencer. I really liked the combination of various points of perspective, and this helped move the story along at a good pace, meaning it’s a true page turner.
With convincing, likeable characters combined with a tight plot, and a real feeling of danger and suspense hanging over most of the story, I think I’ve found the standout thriller of the year – and beyond!
The Whisper Man has apparently been optioned for film already, and I can see why – the whole way through the book I was thinking that this would make an amazing horror/ thriller movie. I can’t wait to read what comes next from Alex North.
If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would!
[Rating: 5/5]
Many thanks to Michael Joseph for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review, and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
[Follow the rest of the tour]
Yay ????
Saw you posted an extract on your blog, have you read it yet? ???? Would def recommend if not, I absolutely loved it (as is obvious from the review haha) x
Great review! I have this on my TBR. Sounds good!
Ooh enjoy when you do read it – it’s great! ????????