For the most part I did enjoy this read; The Whisper Man has some pretty creepy parts, some interesting characters and some decent plot twists. Just not sure it was enough to save this mostly predictable and fluff filled novel, for several reasons:

First (and this is strictly a personal annoyance), I really dislike having to switch back and forth between reading in the third person and reading in the first person. I find it disconcerting. It leaves me confused for the first few sentences of a chapter as to who I am listening to.

Second, there was a lot of what I call fluffy filler; when one character says "What do you think?" and it's followed by two or three paragraphs of the writer telling us what the other character is thinking before they reply. I like to use my own imagination to fill in those blanks, and in this, I was never allowed to. I started skipping all those paragraphs, and was still able to follow the plotline and action with no problem by substituting my own impressions of the characters thoughts and feelings.

Third, I mentioned convoluted because, although the story starts off well and continues that way for the first half, suddenly we get the most amazing coincidences taking us this way, then that way, until I was getting dizzy trying to figure out what on earth would be the NEXT unbelievable coincidence. I'm not talking about red herrings (because there really weren't any); these coincidences would pop up and then the story would go off at a tangent for a bit, before coming back to the main plot.

Lastly, I say predictable because I was able to figure out who the killer was the first time that person is mentioned. And I kept thinking, why is no one else looking into this person, am I wrong? But no, I was right, and I don't know why the seemingly capable, smart people inhabiting the book didn't come to that conclusion at the same time I did.

Now, this is not a bad book. I read it through with no problem (except the skipping fluffy paragraphs part). It had excellent promise and could have been so much more. Maybe next time...

This lived up to the hype for sure! I had the creeps from the very beginning. I could not wait to find out who was kidnapping the kids and how it tied back to Frank Carter. I kept accusing every character along the way and no way I saw the ending coming. Definitely recommend.

"If you leave a door half open, soon you'll hear the whispers spoken"
"If you play outside alone, soon you won't be going home"
" If your window's left unlatched, you'll hear him tapping at the glass"
"If you're lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you"

I don’t get creeped out by books. Hardly ever. It’s so rare I couldn’t even tell you the last book that creeped me out. It never happens.

But guess what? This one actually succeeded.

You follow the story of Tom and his son, Jake .The chapters alternate characters (they don’t specify who either, but it’s easy to follow along) and you learn about The Whisper Man . The name alone is terrifying, amiright?

Usually my 4-5 star reviews are short because there’s nothing to bitch about. So I’ll keep it short and sweet. This book has the C R E E P factor you’re all expecting. I mean… wow… this was good. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was one of those moments where I wanted to finish it so bad but I wanted to let it last. I didn’t want it to end but I had to know how it ended! And I devoured it. I haven't read such a creepy book in so long, this was a huge change from everything I've read. You seriously felt the intensity reading it the whole way through.

I need to pick up more from Alex North. I LOVED THIS BOOK! I devoured it. I haven't loved a book like this in a while. You must read this one!

It took me three tries to get into this book, but I appreciated the opportunity to read the ARC. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

This book was insanely good! I will be lucky if I can sleep tonight. So creepy and so utterly terrifying. I couldn't put this down and read it in one day. The pacing was perfect and I literally got chills a few times. I'll add a full review and highlight on my instagram closer to the pub date but BUY THIS BOOK!

I was lucky enough to be given a copy of The Whisper Man by Net Galley for an unbiased review of the book. I’ve reviewed other books in the past but this is one of my more difficult reviews to write because I had such mixed feelings about the book to start with.

At the time I began reading, I had just gone through a very difficult time in my life and needed the escape factor of a good book. I generally find that books that start out strong and move quickly are the best for me in that situation. This book does not do that.

The book opens when a local boy in Featherbank, a small village, is reported missing. DI Pete Willis, though not assigned to the case, goes out for the initial search for the boy. As the story progresses, we learn that DI Willis had never found another local boy who went missing 20 years earlier. He is haunted by the failure and sees himself as contributing to the failure of the police. He is a recovering alcoholic who still struggles on a daily, almost hourly, basis to avoid alcohol. Because of his work on the previous case, he is eventually asked to help with the newer one.

A second story line occurs when we begin learning a lot about the relationship of Tom Kennedy and his 7-year-old son, Jake. Tom’s wife died in the last year and he is still struggling with grief and serious questions about whether he can parent his son alone. Jake presents as a quirky child, a loner who is content with drawing and not engaging with others. He doesn’t make building a relationship easy. The two decide to make a fresh start and move to Featherbank.

The characters are very well-developed but it all takes some time. In other words, this was not a page turner, at least in the beginning. After probably the first 50 pages, I stopped and read a library book that I had had on hold. But I was determined to complete the book so I came back to it.

And I am very glad that I did! After the rather long introductory period, the plot began developing and the pace picked up. During that time, there were a couple of major twists that I did not expect. But they were completely within reason, something often not found with a book of this type. That made them even better.
I don’t want to reveal any more. Suffice it to say, I completed the book and enjoyed it. Be aware that you just have to stick with it a little longer than you might normally do but you will be rewarded in the end.

Wow! This was a creepy and crazy good read. Grabbed me from the first chapter! Very dark psychological thriller and very well done. Awesome character development Loved some, angered by others. Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.25 Stars* (rounded down).

Creeptastic!

You know that feeling when the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end? When the air feels dark and ominous and your breath catches in your throat and it feels tight and you can’t breathe?

Imagine hearing about The Whisper Man..

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.

It’s just a little tale that all of the children in the town of Featherbank have heard, one passed down from generation to generation. One that keeps them up at night. For good reason: The Whisper Man is real.

Twenty Years ago Frank Carter kidnapped and killed four children. A fifth went missing never to be found. Carter was apprehended by DI Pete Willis and got life in prison. The problem? The Whisper Man is back and now another child has gone missing.

Tom Kennedy and his six year old son Jake move to Featherbank looking for a fresh start. Neither know of Featherbank’s history until Jake hears whisper’s spoken.

“The Whisper Man” was a buddy read with Kaceey. Neither of us had any real idea what we were getting into. If I had one word to describe this suspenseful novel it would be “spooky.” While it slowed down in the second half, the novel picked up at the end and had a fabulous ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books and Alex North for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 7.14.19.
Will be published on Amazon on 8.20.19.

“I’ve told you many times that there’s no such thing as monsters. I’m sorry that I lied.”

All the stars for The Whisper Man!!

I started reading this book and couldn’t put it down! There were so many things I loved about it. The quick pace, multiple POV’s, the short chapters, police investigation, the father/son dynamic, and the mystery leading up to The Whisper Man, not to mention the creepy factor that it gave me the whole time reading.

As with all mystery/thrillers, I think it’s best to know as little going into reading them as possible. Just know the creepy factor was high and I loved it!

Pub Date: 8/20/19

*Thank you to Celadon for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 (rounded up)

Do you believe in ghosts?

After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes that a fresh start will help him and his young son, Jake heal. So when they visit a house in Featherbank, that Jake seems immediately drawn to, he purchases it and they leave behind the memories haunting them in their former home.

But their new town has a dark past.

Twenty years ago, a serial killer named Frank Carter, murdered 5 boys there. He was nicknamed “The Whisper Man” for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.

A boy from Jake’s class at his new school, has vanished, and now Jake is claiming that he hears whispering at his window at night.

Is it just the overactive imagination of a boy whose only friend seems to be a little girl in a blue and white checked dress , with bruises on her knees and messy hair spread out to one side? A little girl who has taught him a very creepy rhyme about “The Whisper Man”..

“If you leave a door half open, soon you”ll hear the whispers spoken. if you play outside alone, soon you won’t be going home. if your window’s left unlatched, you”ll hear him tapping at the glass. if you’re lonely, sad and blue, The Whisper Man will come for you.”

OR is it possible that the crimes are starting again?

Detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis are in a race against time to find out, as the first 48 hours are crucial.

Part Mystery/Suspense and part police procedural, with a creepy “Sixth Sense” vibe, this book will definitely have you checking to make sure that your doors and windows have been locked up tight for the night!

And, maybe even wondering if ghosts do exist…

I would like to thank Netgalley, Celadon Books and Alex North for the digital ARC that I received in exchange for a candid review! This title will be released on Aug. 20, 2019 and can be pre ordered today!

20 years ago 5 boys disappeared, 4 were found dead and the final boy was never found. These deaths were attributed to The Whisper Man because all of the missing children said they heard someone whispering outside their window at night. Flash forward to modern day and another little boy goes missing and is found dead, but The Whisper Man is in jail. The police are struggling to crack the case as another little boy disappears. Will they find the person responsible before another little boy pays the ultimate price?

This book is creepy AF. I breezed through it because I had to know what happened. A good read for anyone who enjoys crime thrillers, serial killer books, etc. It surely has done nothing to assuage my fears of the dark.

If you are looking for a book to send shivers up your spine then this is the one. The way the story goes between past and present is flawless and meaningful to the way the story comes together. The characters drew me into the story and didn't let go! I wavered at times whether I liked a character or hated them due to something they did but every character played a role in how the story unfolds and they are all pivotal to it. I will be looking for the next book by Alex North!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reading copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Celadon Books..

Rarely do I stop reading a book because I'm unnerved, but The Whisper Man did that to me. I usually read e-books in bed, but I had to read this one in daylight because otherwise I could swear I heard whispers and it was starting to jeopardize my sleep! It took me a few chapters to get interested in the story of Tom and his father, but I was drawn into the serial killer bits right away!


This was a great police procedural style thriller with some spooooky atmospheric writing. One of my favorite lines was: " I could picture him stabbing someone with a sliver of a knife, looking into their eyes and licking his lips as he did so." *shivers* This guy wasn' even the main creep!!

I can't wait to read more from Alex North because this was a debut novel and it was most excellent!

Because I'm a finicky reader I'm deducting half a star for originality (this is like so many other books..aka The Craftsman) and a few typical tropes, but 4.5 stars is a hell of a debut!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.

“ If you leave a door open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken “

WOW!!! This book is terrifyingly amazing! The eerie ness of The Whisper Man , whispering outside kids windows, befriending them and getting them to trust him! I couldn’t stop reading and had to make sure all my windows were locked! It was so convincingly real, I had nightmares! I loved being inside Toms head as he worried about his son, the type of parent he was, and the loss of a loved one. There were so parts of the story that I just said wow that really added another layer of mystery to it for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Book for my copy for review!

This is a thrilling read! The suspense grips you early on & doesn’t let go until the end of the novel. The characters are well-developed & the narrative is descriptive without being bogged down with unnecessary details.

This book was hard for me to put down! Despite being in the middle of a full-on book slump, I was able to finish it in two sittings - NOT a small feat. I would have liked to know more about certain events that occurred in the book (such as the previous relationship between Tom and Pete) but was reasonably satisfied with how the book concluded (which doesn't happen often with thrillers!). Definitely recommend picking this one up.

With all the hype around this book, I'm a little disappointed! There were a few creepy parts but for the most part it was just a middle of the road thriller for me. Not bad at all! Entertaining enought, but nothing special in my opinion.

This book gets a huge WOW from me. I requested this one on @netgalley simply based on the cover and title. They are both fantastic and drew me right in even though I was a little worried this would end up being a horror novel. I was pleasantly surprised that it really is not. This is essentially a crime novel (yay!) about a decades-old serial killer dubbed The Whisper Man who was caught and imprisoned years ago, but now there has been a resurgence of similar crimes. The story is told from several points of view: a young widowed father and his precocious six-year-old son, a jaded detective, a bright-eyed newer detective, and the killer. I would call this creepy but not gory, with enough delightfully goose-bumpy moments to make it fun but not so much hat it gave me nightmares. Excellent pacing, solid writing, and some nice twists made this a huge winner for me. I started it on Sunday afternoon intending to only read part of it, and ending up finishing at nearly midnight that night. Highly recommended for readers of crime fiction and thrillers who like to be lightly creeped out (but not too much). I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and am DYING to talk about it!

This releases August 20 and I predict, with this cover and that story, that we will be seeing it EVERYWHERE!

Big thanks to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Whisper Man by Alex North is a Must Read for Any Fans of Suspense

Hauntings of a serial killer come back to life. Kids are whispering in the dead of night. Kidnapped children & cold cases. Is a copycat killer or an accomplice is back to finish the work of The Whisper Man? This book has everything I want when I'm in the mood or a suspense thriller!

Kids are Creepy

First, I will include a trigger warning about imaginary friends. Next, The Whisper Man by Alex North centers around the death of children. Thankfully, the narrative is not gory and it’s certainly not glamorizing serial killers.

As soon as the story starts, I am instantly invested in what’s going on. Funny enough I read this over the weekend when I was camping in the dark woods. That environment made it all the more atmospheric for me.

Suspense Done Right

The Whisper Man is creepy but not too scary. The novel is very well-written. It's been a while since I've read suspense & I am so grateful for a reliable narrator. Seriously, I could jump up and scream! I love how there the past & the present come together. North builds the storylines expertly & both timelines intersect in a way that is so meaningful. The dual timelines add to the suspense. Also, I'm happy to say I have no trouble shifting gears between the timelines. 

I don’t often say this about suspense books but I would re-read this one in a heartbeat. It’s easy to get lost in it and I loved all the dialogue point of you from the child.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! Read this if you're looking for a story with a darker tone & creepy vibes. The Whisper Man is a perfect read for any suspense lover.

Special thanks to Alex North, Celadon Books & NetGalley for providing our free copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.