The Whisper Man by Alex North
Published by Penguin RandomHouse (Michael Joseph)
Publication Date: 13th June 2019 (hardback/ebook)
Genre: crime/thrillers
386 pages
Get ready for the biggest thriller of 2019."The best crime novel of the decade" Steve Cavanagh
Book Description:
If you leave a door half-open, soon you'll hear the whispers spoken...
Still devastated after the loss of his wife, Tom Kennedy and his young son Jake move to the sleepy village of Featherbank, looking for a fresh start.
But Featherbank has a dark past. Fifteen years ago a twisted serial killer abducted and murdered five young boys. Until he was finally caught, the killer was known as 'The Whisper Man'.
Of course, an old crime need not trouble Tom and Jake as they try to settle in to their new home. Except that now another boy has gone missing. And then Jake begins acting strangely.
He says he hears a whispering at his window...
My Review:
First of all, my thanks to Jenny Platt at Penguin for allowing me the privilege of reading this amazing book ahead of publication. I can honestly say, hand on heart, it is the creepiest yet most heart rending book I have read in a long time. The writing is very subtly creepy, and you don't realise quite how scared you've become until you have to put the book down and go to bed in the dark!
In the small village of Featherbank 6 year old Neil Spencer is making his way home to his mum after spending the day at his dad's. His broken family isn't the most attentive, with dad too drunk to be able to drive him home to his alcoholic mum. His route takes him across a patch of waste ground where someone is watching, waiting for their opportunity. Neil doesn't make it home that night.
DI Pete Willis is part of the team of detectives who is out searching for Neil. The events of the evening bring back horrific memories for Willis, who was involved in a historic case which still resonates in the local community, the case of the Whisper Man. One of the victims of this case has never been found, and it haunts Willis to this day that the man responsible has never revealed his final secret.
Meanwhile, grieving youngster Jake and his dad have recently moved to Featherbank in an attempt to restart their lives afresh after the death of mum Rebecca. Jake is struggling with his grief, which is manifesting itself as an imaginary friend; a young girl with scuffed knees and messy black hair. She's his only friend - he knows she's not real but she makes life easier to deal with right now. The relationship with his dad is strained and he doesn't feel he can talk to his dad the way he talks to the girl. But the new house is scary at night - especially when the voice starts whispering to him.
The author cleverly takes us back in history to reveal the events of the past and shows how they are still affecting various characters in their every day lives; the current investigation gradually unravels revealing secrets in areas I really wasn't expecting yet underlying everything there is a sinister feeling that won't go away. Who is responsible for the disappearance of Neil Spencer? Is it a one-off or are other families at risk? Is it just a copycat criminal or is there a link to the original case? The clues will give you goosebumps.
The story comes to an adrenaline fuelled climax following a steady build up, with the Whisper Man legend sending ripples through time and affecting those closest to the original tale. Maybe the ending was a little predictable however the journey the author takes us on to get there is far from predictable; an unsettling, finely tuned piece of writing which I became completely absorbed in.
I definitely recommend this book if you like your thrillers to have a chilling edge.
In the small village of Featherbank 6 year old Neil Spencer is making his way home to his mum after spending the day at his dad's. His broken family isn't the most attentive, with dad too drunk to be able to drive him home to his alcoholic mum. His route takes him across a patch of waste ground where someone is watching, waiting for their opportunity. Neil doesn't make it home that night.
DI Pete Willis is part of the team of detectives who is out searching for Neil. The events of the evening bring back horrific memories for Willis, who was involved in a historic case which still resonates in the local community, the case of the Whisper Man. One of the victims of this case has never been found, and it haunts Willis to this day that the man responsible has never revealed his final secret.
Meanwhile, grieving youngster Jake and his dad have recently moved to Featherbank in an attempt to restart their lives afresh after the death of mum Rebecca. Jake is struggling with his grief, which is manifesting itself as an imaginary friend; a young girl with scuffed knees and messy black hair. She's his only friend - he knows she's not real but she makes life easier to deal with right now. The relationship with his dad is strained and he doesn't feel he can talk to his dad the way he talks to the girl. But the new house is scary at night - especially when the voice starts whispering to him.
The author cleverly takes us back in history to reveal the events of the past and shows how they are still affecting various characters in their every day lives; the current investigation gradually unravels revealing secrets in areas I really wasn't expecting yet underlying everything there is a sinister feeling that won't go away. Who is responsible for the disappearance of Neil Spencer? Is it a one-off or are other families at risk? Is it just a copycat criminal or is there a link to the original case? The clues will give you goosebumps.
The story comes to an adrenaline fuelled climax following a steady build up, with the Whisper Man legend sending ripples through time and affecting those closest to the original tale. Maybe the ending was a little predictable however the journey the author takes us on to get there is far from predictable; an unsettling, finely tuned piece of writing which I became completely absorbed in.
I definitely recommend this book if you like your thrillers to have a chilling edge.
'Terrifying and utterly heartbreaking' Mark Billingham
'A dark, creepy, thriller with a huge amount of heart' Stuart MacBride
'Beautifully written. Beautifully plotted. Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right" C. J. Tudor
'A tremendous calling card for the brilliant Alex North' Mick Herron
About the Author:
Alex North was born in Leeds, where he now lives with his wife and son. He studied Philosophy at Leeds University, and prior to becoming a writer he worked there in their sociology department.
Alex North was born in Leeds, where he now lives with his wife and son. He studied Philosophy at Leeds University, and prior to becoming a writer he worked there in their sociology department.
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