OMG The Whisper Man! I am 100% a true crime fanatic, and that means I LOVE books like this. The Whisper Man was no exception. Tom moves his son Jake to a new home after his wife dies. The two of them think they’re getting a new fresh start – and that is the complete opposite of what they’re getting. Many years ago, a serial killer dubbed “The Whisper Man” ran rampant through this town, and upon moving into this new house, Jake starts telling his dad that he’s hearing whispers. Is this Whisper man back? Or is there a copy cat on the loose?

This book took turns I was NOT expecting! I was enthralled by the story and didn’t predict the ending – which is one of the best qualities of a thriller to me! I recommend picking this one up before summer’s over. Four stars for The Whisper Man!

Neil Spencer has a less than ideal life. The six-year-old has two alcoholic parents and he is left on his own devices all too often. When his father decides to let him walk back to his mother’s house alone, it is the last time he was seen. He is not the first missing child Detective Inspector Pete Willis has searched for and won’t be his last.

The small town had a serial killer targeting children years ago, but Frank Carter, aka The Whisper Man, had been caught and was in prison. But Neil’s disappearance was eerily similar to the Whisper Man cases. Some of the children’s bodies have not been found and continue to haunt DI Willis. He is determined to find Neil before he became another unsolved mystery.

Meanwhile, another family in this small town is troubled. Tom lives with his young son, Jake, in the home in which Tom’s wife/Jake’s mother tragically died. Jake is troubled. He has an imaginary friend that he talked to all the time. The small family decides to find a new home so that they can move on. After the move, he tells his father that a man is whispering to him telling him to unlock the door of the new house and let him in.

Understandably Tom is distraught. He contacts the local police, who at first don’t really believe anything is amiss, especially because Jake is known to have imaginary friends. Once DI Willis hears about the whispers, he immediately knows it has to be The Whispering Man’s accomplice. Would he be able to keep young Jake safe? Would they finally locate the other missing boys’ remains?

The Whisper Man is a haunting thriller that skillfully pulls the reader into the story from the first pages. At times I couldn’t stop reading, and was holding my breath as the plot unfolded. North created characters that came alive on the pages. When I read lines such as “…grief is a stew with a thousand ingredients, and not all of them are palatable…” they stick in my mind long after the last page. This was so much more than a mystery, reminiscent of Dean Koontz, thought provoking descriptions and beautiful turns of phrase keep readers slowing down to enjoy the journey of the fast paced plot.

If you are a fan of mysteries, thrillers and heart stopping plot twists, this is the book for you. Alex North is a pen name, so I’m not sure if I’ve ever read anything else that was written by him. If anything else he’s written is as intensely engaging as The Whisper Man, I will be the first to get a copy.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman

For some reason I had some difficulty getting into the Whisper Man but once I did I couldn't put it down and I was not disappointed. Alex North wrote an excellent fast paced thriller that is both scary and heart breaking at times. I thought the characters were well developed really and I really enjoyed the relationship between Tom and Jack- it wasn't perfect by any means but there was undeniable bond there. Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Whisper Man by Alex North is getting so many good reviews. I am seeing this book everywhere and can’t wait to read it. As you know if you read my blog, I love a suspense that keeps you turning the pages, wondering what is going to happen next!

Here’s what you need to know:

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…

The Whisper Man is averaging four and five stars over on Goodreads! It’s at the top of my TO READ pile and will be out on August 20th.

3.5 stars

I don’t like making comparisons, but I’m going to make one anyway ;) The Whisper Man had an almost Stephen King vibe. Do you know what I mean? A sense that something is coming, creepiness.

After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. The death of the wife is where the first senses of creepy appear in this book. However, that little bit of intensity fell flat. I guess my expectations were a too high, that I was expecting something more sinister than I got.

The Kennedy’s new home town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. I don’t usually figure these things out, but I just knew something was going to happen to Jake. While I was slightly surprised by the "bad" guy, the reveal didn't boost my overall feelings for the book.

This book held a ton of creepy, but ultimately the suspense and intrigue were unsatisfying. A whole lotta talk and not a lot of action, but still an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

I recieved a copy for review through NetGalley.

There are so many things to love about The Whisper Man by Alex North. It is a fast paced thriller involving a serial killer, Frank Carter, called the whisper man who whispers in the windows of children before he abducts them. A recent kidnapping looks like the work of the whisper man. However, Frank Carter was captured and imprisoned 20 years ago. A young boy named Jake receives warnings through an unusual and supernatural gift. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis have to stop the new murderer before it is too late.

There is a supernatural element involved throughout the novel that works really well. The characters are well developed with flaws and backgrounds that make them very believable. There is a sense of dread and urgency throughout that makes the book hard to put down. If you like beat the clock thrillers involving serial killers and amazing characters with intertwined lives in a small town I would definitely recommend The Whisper Man by Alex North.

The Whisper Man is an eerie thriller of the most frightening kind with the search for a serial killer who preys on children. Tom Kennedy and his son Jake are mourning the loss of Rebecca, Tom’s wife, Jakes’ mother. Their home is haunted by her presence, so they move to a new home in Featherbank. It is a slightly scary house, but Jake fixated on it when they were browsing possible homes and Tom is determined to help Jake move past his grief and his imaginary friend.

Peter Ellis is a retired cop who captured an infamous serial child killer twenty years earlier in Featherbank. Four of the five victims were found, but he is obsessed with finding the fifth. When a young boy is kidnapped, he consults with the current investigation, even going to prison to seek information from the man he captured so long ago.

No sooner do Tom and Jake move in than strange things happen. There are unexplained creaks and groans. Jake’s conversations with imaginary figures are more frightening and he seems to be seeing and hearing something paranormal, drawing butterflies he has not had the opportunity to see, for example.



I am very cautious about child jeopardy books. I have personal rules about how graphic and prurient they can be. I am pleased that The Whisper Man does not draw near the line between creating tension and authorial respect for childhood. This is a book that builds all the tension you can bear without making you feel bad for reading it.

It is also scrupulously fair. All the information you need is there and not because of the killer’s point of view. It is there for people to figure out if only people shared the information they had and could put it together. Even better, despite Jake’s seeming prescience and supernatural abilities, North offers a naturalistic worldview. I also loved the examination of history and memory when Tom and Pete meet and find not just common ground but common history.

The Whisper Man is an excellent thriller. It is fair by Detective Club rules and written with humanity and compassion.

The Whisper Man will be released on August 20th. I received an e-galley for review through NetGalley.

The Whisper Man at Celedon Books
Alex North on Twitter

I won't bore you with trying to rewrite a synopsis like I see a lot of reviewers doing. I will say that Alex North is an exceptional storyteller and legitimately gave me goosebumps a couple of times while I was reading The Whisper Man. I can't say I was terrified, but it definitely made me stop to update my Goodreads status on the book to "oh. my. god". (I almost never give an update on Goodreads). I'd say it was more creepy than anything (but I can't really say why without spoiling anything).
The story was utterly heartbreaking at times and other times it gave me the warm and fuzzies. It really zoned in on how intricate and complicated the father/son dynamic can be. It has definitely made me stop to analyze familial relationships in my own life a little closer.
My favorite thing of all was how smooth the story played out. There were no plot holes, nothing was rushed. I'll just have to slap North's name on my favorite author list and not-so-patiently wait for his next book.

Holy. Cow. This book was one thrilling ride! It has been a while since I have devoured a book like I did this one. My tablet battery died when I was 97% done and the wait to get home was agonizing to charge up and finish! This book is told through multiple perspectives: Tom and Jake(father and son), The Killer, and Pete(detective). I loved the delivery of the multiple pov's. It added so much intensity to the story; each character developing at such a perfect pace. It's mysterious and suspenseful plot will have you hungrily flying through the pages, utterly captivated. If you're looking for a gripping thriller that will keep you entertained until the very end, then The Whisper Man is exactly what you want!

After the death of his wife, Tom decides he and his son, Jake (who found her dead at the bottom of the steps) need a new start in a new town. When Jake sees a particular house he falls in love with, he convinces Tom it’s the house for them. This new town has a dark past though, and it seems this house is somehow wrapped up in the darkness. When a boy goes missing and all signs point to a copycat of an old serial killer, the town is on alert and detectives Amanda and Pete know they need to find the kidnapper before it turns truly ugly.

Wow this book. So I will say that I wanted this book to scare the crap out of me. It didn’t do that, but it was still excellent! My heart really went out to Tom and Jake and their ability to always misunderstand the other. The mystery of who the whisper man was and what was happening to these poor kids had me on the edge of my seat needing to know how this was going to end. I really loved Jake, he was such a sweet and innocent little boy and I just wanted to reach out and give him a hug.

Thank you to netgalley and celadon books for allowing me to read and review this book in advance. This was my 100th Netgalley review!

"The Whisper Man" is a spine tingling debut novel by Alex North. Tom Kennedy and his young son Jake move to a small town in order to make a fresh start after the unexpected death of Jake's mother. The town seems to be peaceful, but darkness lies just below the surface. Twenty years prior, a serial killer terrorized the town and murdered five children. The killer, nicknamed The Whisper Man because of the method by which he lured the victims from their homes, was caught and incarcerated. However, recently, another boy is abducted in much the same manner, and now Jake is hearing the strange whispers outside of his window.

"The Whisper Man" is a fast-paced and exciting read. I finished it in just over two hours and did not want to put it down for anything. It is well-written and suspenseful, though I would not describe it as "scary." The characters are well-developed and the method of telling the story from multiple points of view works wonderfully. There are definitely some tense moments, but nothing overly grisly or graphic. I'm sure that this book will be considered one of the best crime novels of the year.

As always, many thanks to NetGally, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

WOW! What an amazing crime debut novel. Whisper Man is a novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat! I could not put this book down! It was so eerie that I wasn't able to read it at night! Cannot wait for more crime novels by Alex North!

Tom Kennedy and his young son, Jake, are moving to a new house for a fresh start after the unexpected death of Tom’s wife (Jake’s mother). Just as they move into their quirky new home in a new neighborhood, news of a child abduction comes out. And although the circumstances are shockingly similar to the work of a known serial killer, we know that it can’t be the same nutcase because that man was arrested nearly 20 years earlier and is safely behind bars now. So is there a copycat killer out there? Or does the original killer have a partner he’s working with on the outside? And why is Jake starting to talk to his “imaginary” friends even more, coming up with a creepy nursery rhyme about a “whisper man?” Not usually my type of book, I still think it was done well, with just enough suspense to keep you wondering and just enough creepiness to allow you to keep reading without getting TOO creeped out.

4 Stars

Note: A special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was hooked from the first page..

"It's not going to be easy, and I need to start with an apology. Because over the years I've told you many times that there's no such thing as monsters.
I'm sorry that I lied"

Nearly 20 years ago, Frank Carter was handed down a life sentence for the abduction and murder of 5 little boys. They called him the Whisper Man, since he would whisper at the doors and windows of his victims to get them to come outside. That alone FREAKED ME OUT!!

However, 20 years later, another litle boy has gone missing and the MO is very similiar to the whsiper. It was always speculated that Carter had an accomplice...has the accomplice started up again?

What a intense thriller! One of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a while!

The Whisper Man, the name given to a child murderer some twenty years ago. He’s in prison now, so why are little boys disappearing again? This novel has twists and turns and a building tension that makes the reader want to race through each page just to know all the secrets. This author is one to add to your list to watch. Great novel!

Creepy. That's what it is. Creepy. But it's also heartbreaking, and heartwarming. The Whisper Man will make you feel things. As you turn the pages, you will become connected to the main characters, especially Jake. He's such a unique little boy and has been through so much. I wanted to reach out and give him a hug.

This story didn't reveal itself until it was ready; unpredictable. A well-paced novel with a succinct conclusion that did not feel at all drawn out. A highly recommended thriller for 2019!

I really enjoyed this book. It started a little slow for me but once it got going it was really good. This book had a few different feels for me. There were parts that were really creepy, and parts that were supernatural and then a few of the coincidences were just to convenient. Overall I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read it for my honest reveiew.

To begin with, it was nice reading a thriller that didn't have the word girl, woman, or wife in the title. That was a nice beginning hint of something different from all the other thrillers that have over-saturated the field. Along with being a who dun it thriller this was also a story about father and sons.

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 much-needed 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.

The story then brings together the father/son and becomes entwined in the "whisper man" story. This was bit of a slow burn but compelling enough to keep my interest all the way through out. This was a well done story on the complexities of fatherhood along with multiple story lines that were engrossing on their own as well.

There's something creepy about whispers, isn't there? Maybe it's because I was young when The Sixth Sense came out and I'm always gonna hear that creepy "I see dead people." in my ear. The Whisper Man, as it turns out, was just as creepy. There were a couple of times that I had to look away from this novel because it had so thoroughly creeped me out.
Other than being creepy, The Whisper Man turned out to be quite a bit about family, specifically about the family of Tom and Jake Kennedy, a father and son pair who move into a creepy house in a town where a boy has gone missing recently and where, twenty years ago, a serial killer called The Whisper Man kidnapped and killed several little boys.
The book had several different perspectives and I enjoyed reading each and every one, which doesn't always happen. In these cases, I sometimes find myself wanting to go back to another character's perspective, but I was equally enthralled which each narration in this book.
I did figure out who was behind it in this book, but that didn't keep me from spinning my wheel during the duration. It was fun to try to figure out just how each character played a part in the overall story.
All in all, if you enjoy mystery and thrillers, I think you'll enjoy this book!

This was a creepy story and a fast paced read! A ‘whisper man’ who had abducted children in a small town by whispering to them was caught and put in prison. But, there must be a copycat because the book starts with another child getting abducted nearly 20 years later. The following year a father and son move into the town’s “scary house” and soon learn about the creepy past of the town. The son, Jake, seems to be extra aware of what is going on.

Soon they are caught up in the story. This is a good thriller! Keeps you guessing with many twists and turns. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC in exchange for an honest review.