DNF. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite work for me, so I didn't manage to finish it despite having started it a couple of times. I might try again in the future, but for now it wasn't the right book for me.

There’s a claustrophobic undercurrent running through this book. The mother daughter relationship is uncomfortable (everyone seems to be trying too hard) and the mystery of the missing four days is intriguing. Exactly what’s going on?! It’s a clever book, about obsession and over protectiveness, a young woman trying to work out why she feels as sad as she does. Clever, compulsive and well written.

Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

Having read and enjoyed Elizabeth is Missing, I was looking forward to reading Emma Healey's second novel. Unfortunately Whistle in the Dark didn't engage me in the same way.

This gets a no from me. Emma Healey’s Whistle is the Dark is about a young girl, Lana, who goes missing and whose mother, Jen, spends the entire book trying to figure out why? Or how? Or more accurately, what happened when she did?

It’s a meandering, exhausting, and often deafeningly dull journey through a mother’s psyche as she picks up clues, conversations, and connections that gnaw at her until she herself has to go to the root of it all to discover the truth for herself.

A uniquely positioned family tale, this will hook you from the very beginning. Featuring a creative cast of interesting characters, this is darkly humorous and wittily captures the challenge of parenting. I loved it!

With thanks to netgalley

I was thrilled to get a review copy of Emma Healy’s new book. I had read Elizabeth is missing and throughly enjoy it.

Sadly whistle in the dark didn’t hold up, I found myself not caring about the main character, and found it a challenge to finish this book.

I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. I had no idea where it was going right up until the end and I actually liked the ending. However, I am not sure I enjoyed the journey to get there as much as I would have liked. I do not think I really liked or connected with any of the characters.

Having read and enjoyed Emma Healey's first novel, Elizabeth is Missing, I was eager to read her second. Unfortunately Whistle in the Dark just didn't hold my attention as much as her debut. Although the premise is fantastic - and the novel starts off strong - I found myself drifting away from the story as the book progressed and not really caring about the characters or what happens to them. Whilst Healey's writing remains impressive, I felt like there was a little too much going on at times and that the novel couldn't fully sustain the weight of its ambitions. I'd read Healey's work again in the future but, unfortunately, this book didn't really land for me.

Not one of my favourites, didnt finish and the story didnt hold my attention at all, not for me sorry

This feedback is super old, as I never got around to uploading this feedback. Whistle in the Dark, started off with an exciting premise and I was relatively hooked however the book fell flat for me in the middle, picking up towards the end. Healey, is clearly a superb writer based upon her other book, 'Elizabeth is missing' which I devoured in a heartbeat. I think an issue with Whistle in the Dark is Healey, attempts to create a book which straddles multiple genres and this is where the book falls flat in the middle for me,

Omg omg omg .......... this book was amazing I could not put it down I read every word on the edge of my seat I loved the story line, i loved the way the story just kept us guessing all the way threw I loved all the twists and turns and would defiantly recommend this book it was so believable and kept the reader engaged I love it

Wow, this book is like no other that I have read.

The way it’s written, the style of the writing. It’s not even short chapters; it’s hard to explain it’s just like fleeting thoughts. Everything is a fleeting thought. Nothing is defined at all. I’m not quite sure how to describe it.

There was no ‘oh one more chapter’ because all the chapters were captioned to keep you reading and yearning for more information, just because of the way that Jen, our main character, thought. They just flitted in and out, in and out it would be one minute we were rifling through Lana’s room and then the next thing you know they’re talking about something completely different and then we go back to Lana’s room. It is literally a constant flow of thoughts in this book, and because of it, we have personal insight into everything.

We don’t know at this stage why Lana disappeared for four days. No one knows. Was it something supernatural? Or has she been taken? Or has she simply just disappeared? No one knows until Jen discovers the truth. And when Jen discovered the truth, I must admit my heart was in my throat I couldn’t believe what it was that had actually happened. I’m not going to lie, but it was really sad when you found out what occurred. I didn’t expect it.

I think that’s what it is you have to do with this book, expect the unexpected. As I say, it’s like nothing I’ve ever read before. It’s not my normal type of book. I don’t even remember requesting it from Net Galley. But I tell you, I’m so glad I’ve read this book.

There was just something a little bit special about this book and about Lana and about Jen. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Lana was a little brat. There were a few times I could have loved to have screamed at her to stop being so horrible, but I also got why she was the way she was. And Jen, yes, she was an overbearing mother. But again, you get why she is the way she is. And I think that’s what made this book a little bit heartbreaking. These people rely solely pretty much on each other, who block the world out. But when that starts to fall apart as in the case of Lana, you see, their worlds crumble, and it was really quite sad.

I think it’s quite a nice slow burner. It makes you think and it’s not one to fly through. I mean, it took me a few days to finish it. It’s a book to make you sit back and enjoy reading. I have to say I really enjoyed the way in which the author wrote the book, with these fleeting moments. Without all these really long dialogues and really drawn out descriptions. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy books like that, but it wouldn’t work here.

You’re literally in the action with Jen, as you experience what she is experiencing. You are in her head; you are in her world. You see what she sees; you feel what she feels, all in these fleeting moments. And I think that’s what made this a little bit special and a little bit different. For me, because I’ve not experienced a book like this before, not one where you are wholeheartedly immersed in the story with the main character and in their thoughts, I’m not explaining this very well. I mean, it’s hard to describe this book if you haven’t read it, but it’s definitely a book that you need to experience. This is not one that someone can sit here and tell you about. I could sit here until I’m blue in my face and tell you about this book and you still probably wouldn’t get what I’m trying to say. It’s something you need to experience for yourself, and when you do, it will be a different experience to me and everyone else.

I have everything I think I can say about this book. Healey is on my radar and I can’t wait to read her next offering.

Whistle in the Dark had such a great premise but sadly missed the mark. With each avenue explored as to where Lana could’ve disappeared to I was feeling less and less hopeful until we reach an unfulfilling conclusion.

Perhaps I would’ve felt more connected and engaged if I had found the characters likeable.

Not a fan, unfortunately. 1/5

Love a story where you can follow the mystery of the main character. The subject’s struggle to understand the situation was well described. I just found I had little empathy for her struggle or journey towards enlightenment. I was also disappointed with the plots resolution.

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

I really wanted to like this book, I really did, but I found it difficult to get into the story or interested in the characters. The story revolves around the difficult relationship between a mother and a daughter and the mysterious disappearance for four days of the former. The story is dark, slow, and the characters are irritating and very complex. I had trouble getting to the end, but I really wanted to see how it ended. I have seen that many people did enjoy it, but I don’t think this story is for everyone.

I loved Elizabeth is Missing so I couldn’t wait to dive into this. Full of mystery. You never quite know where it is going to lead but it is a beautiful journey to go on.

Jen has just survived the worst week of any parents' life: her daughter, Lana, has just been found after going missing for four days. Lana refuses to say what happened, that she just wants to get back on with her life. Yet, Jen needs to know so she goes off to retrace Lana's steps. A journey that will lead her to a deeper of Lana, her family, and herself.

Yes, this has been sat on my shelf for a long time. I have had the arc for two years and I've only just gotten around to it ... oops sorry about that!

I utterly adored Emma Healey's debut 'Elizabeth is Missing'. It gripped me from beginning to end. So I was incredibly excited about this. And the first fifty pages or so were just like her debut. They held my attention. However, as the rest of the book wore on I found myself losing interest. Lana was turning more and more into a brat and there didn't seem to be some big mystery behind the disappearance.

Due to the fact that I was coming to dislike Lana so much, I found that I just didn't want to know what happened. Not to mention that Jen, herself, was becoming more annoying as the book wore on. It had a strong ending but it wasn't the big mystery/thriller than I expected.

Three stars.

This book sits somewhere in the middle for me. Although I did not dislike it, I cannot say that I liked it either and felt confused about what it wanted to be/achieve. I originally thought it would centre more around the mystery of Lana's dissapearance, however it spirals around the characters and their relationships. On the positive, at least there was enough tension there to make it worthwhile. On the flip side, Jen's over-analyzing is getting tiresome very very fast as it happens over and over again.

The dialogue doesn't do this book any favours either, giving it a heavy feeling by having the characters speak unlike any human that I know....

May be a great read for others, but not me, sadly.