This book has been a highly popular book on Instagram, it was everywhere, and EVERYONE loved it. I was lucky enough to receive the audiobook from the publisher, instead of having to wait half a year for my library hold to go through. Popular books are highly asked after at the library, and the wait can be multiple months. I’m always shocked when I see I’m #76 on a waiting list for one out of three copies. Patience is not my strongest suit. Oh well….

The Whisper Man – Alex North

The Whisper Man by Alex North

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…

Audiobook generously provided in exchange for an honest review.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
11 hours

The Whisper Man – Alex North

my thoughts

Just to say it upfront, this book was very different than anticipated. I wasn’t scared and the creep factor didn’t keep me from sleeping BUT there are many on GR that will tell you otherwise. So it all depends on your personal comfort level of all things spooky and angsty.

If you leave a window open, soon you'll hear the whispers spoken.
If you play outside alone, soon you won't be going home...
If you're lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.

This rhyme was probably the creepiest part of the entire story, and the supernatural subplot was also very well done. But what kept me on the edge of the seat were the questions and the provenance of the rhyme. Something was lurking, and it was very subtly done. It was almost like hearing the JAWS theme in the background, I just knew something was going to happen.

An IG friend summed it up very well when she said that this book is so much more than a thriller. It was more. But also less. The plot had a slow built up and the author took his time to write some amazing character development, but while doing so, the story felt more like a character study than thriller.

I loved the supernatural theme.

The supernatural vibe throughout the book gave it the spooky feel I was expecting. But otherwise it felt more like a crime story, a police procedural, especially while reading the POV’s of the lead detectives.

Nevertheless the plot as well as the built up was very well done. Until the very end, there was no clear knowledge about who The Whisper Man really was, and the last scene was the BOMB!!! Unbelievable ending!! That one gave me all the goosebumps that the rest of the book failed to do.

So, to sum it all up, any thriller enthusiast will enjoy this book.

---

About the narration: I didn’t know who the narrator was until midway through the audiobook when I saw someone on GR mentioning Christopher Eccleston, from Doctor Who. I admit I was a bit disappointed when I realized who narrated it. Throughout the entire audiobook I felt that the nuances between the different characters were missing. And the book has quite a few POV’s, and still, I had trouble hearing a difference, a modulation between the many personalities.. Mind you, the chapters and POV’s weren’t announced by the characters name, the book jumped from one character to another. Listening to the audiobook made these POV’s even less obvious. I expected an author to use his acting skills, and find a way to distinguish the many different personalities, including the child.

---

4 STARS
AMAZON
GOODREADS

The Whisper Man – Alex North