I think the description for this book didn't fit the actual story itself.

This was an OK read, but one that never grasped my full attention. I found myself having to go back to reread to remind myself what happened.

All in all - this was just ok.


thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

After two false starts trying to read this book, I attempted a third and last attempt and managed to get to 40% into the novel, with a great struggle, I did not engage with this book until 70% when events became clear. The title confused me, but again becomes clearer later in the book. The chapters are short and that's the only reason I continue to the end of the book. This storyline was not for me.

I give a 3 star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

I read this book in no time at all, it definitely stays true to the name of its publisher (One More Chapter)!

It's a very dark, claustrophobic, psychological thriller, written in an extremely interesting and catching style, full of religious and political references and with engrossing twists that keep you guessing all the time.

I LOVED it!! It was my first CK Williams, but won't be my last for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She told you her secret. Now she’s dead and it’s your fault…
As the local doctor, Kate O'Leary has the respect of her community, after all she's helped generations of those in need.
But then a teenage patient is murdered. And her blood is found in Kate's house.
Her neighbours turn against her and rumours start to spread. Alone and under arrest, Kate turns to the one person who can help. But she knows that even an official verdict can mean nothing if those looking for revenge find you guilty.
Kate knows she's not a killer. But if it's not her, then who? And finding the truth might be the only way to stay alive…

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

This was an okay read where the prose didn't endear itself to me. But the last mystery was good. though I didn't like the weird inputs by the vigilante crowd. The Whodunit part was slightly more exciting.

This was a decent read, though I didn’t think it really matched the synopsis all that well. The story is told from the POV of Jannis, who heads to Ireland from Germany when his closest friend, Kate, is accused of murdering a young patient. The story that ensues revolves around trying to get to the truth in a town with no shortage of suspects.

The book had a strong political/religious agenda which didn’t come through when I read the overview. While the story itself involved a good mystery, I just wasn’t that interested in those undertones. The writing was a bit stilted as well, with some super short chapters dispersed throughout. Overall, it read a bit like it had been translated into English from another language, though I wasn’t able to confirm that. The overall tone of the book was just sad to me, and I felt melancholy after finishing it.

Overall, not really my cup of tea but maybe others will be more connected to the story. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. This book had me sucked in from the first page. The storyline was brilliant. I didn’t have to imagine what some places are like. The benefits of living in Ireland we get to see the beauty of the island everyday. Spelga dam is probably one of the most peaceful places in Northern Ireland. Brilliantly written, well worth reading.

A psychological thriller. A promising start from a relatively new author. Maybe I missed something but I got a bit confused as to the central location of the story, Germany, Australia, England are all mentioned but then I realised its set in a rural location in Ireland. The Irish way of life is central to the plot.
Also, it has previously been published under a different title "Local Whispers."

Jane O’Leary is a GP in a small rural community in rural, sectarian Northern Ireland. When the body of a 17 year old girl is found and traces of the girl’s blood at Jane O’Leary’s house, she is questioned by the police before being released.

The presumption of innocence is not upheld by the local community, who turn on her. Jane calls on her very good friend Jannis, who travels from Germany to Northern Ireland, to support her. The tension builds and becomes incredibly claustrophobic as fundamental beliefs and choices are questioned and religious sectarianism is never too far away.

This is my first C.K. Williams book and I will certainly seek out her other books. I thoroughly enjoyed the pace, the building claustrophobia and the twists and turns of the book.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC for a fair and honest review.

NB - The book has also been published with a different title - it’s listed as ‘Local Whispers’ on the Waterstones and GoodReads website.

A tense thriller set in the region of the Mountains of Mourne in island where we are introduced to Kate who is a GP in a rural practice. The location is very insular and when her old friend comes to visit her from Germany he is considered a foreigner by the locals. He has come to Ireland to help Kate who has been questioned in connection with the murder of a young girl.

The mood is brooding and claustrophobic and I read with fascination as the descriptions of the local landscape – undoubtedly beautiful but threatening, reflected in the mood of the local populace. Even the local priest is not above suspicion.

I must mention the subject of the yew trees which play a very important role in the plot and atmosphere. We are reminded that there are more yew trees in Ireland than anywhere else on earth – our attention is drawn to their age – perhaps thousands of years. They seem to be more important than the people who are trapped in the past with mentions of the IRA and the role of women in that society – and rejection of the freedom denied young women.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The premise was good - a young woman is found dead, sliced into pieces. The investigation focuses on her doctor, Kate,, who has been found with bloody clothes belonging to the victim.

The story is told from the point of view of Kate's friend Jannis Loose.

It was a bit muddled in the beginning but once it got moving it was hard to out down.

My thanks to Net Galley for the chance to review this book but it didn't live up to what I was expecting.

Kate a GP was accused of a murder. Great little mystery set up but then it got very strange. There were breaks with interludes of these vigilante town watch advertisements that broke the flow of the story. Then when one character is hospitalized, the characters thoughts are one whole sentence on numerous kindle pages. Then the why and the who sent Kate the threatening notes was strange. I can't recommend this.

I really enjoyed this book. The setting is Ireland and that made it especially interesting for me as I have not read much about Ireland. The story is fast paced and there is a lot going on with all the different characters. I like this authors writing style and the twists and turns just keep coming until the very end. I highly recommend.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this arc for my honest review.

One f those stories that hold your attention very easily at the beginning but then lose that very s@me attention about half way through. All that angst and nasty mixed up people didn’t endear it.

Really enjoyed this psychological thriller. A host of great characters that draw the reader completely into the story. Suspenseful and creepy.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Local Whispers / The Woman at No. 13 by C.K. Williams, published by Harper Collins/ One More Chapter, is a full length, stand-alone, mystery/thriller.
This book had me right from chapter one and I was in suspense til the last page. A story full of unexpected twists and turns, fast paced, action and drama packed.
Kate the GP in a small Irish town, ok a tiny Irish town and Jannis, a German friend who both get mixed up in a murder case.
This story deaks with sensitive subjects and is rather not for the faint of heart, consider you warned.
The story is written in diary style, very fitting. All in all, this is an outstanding book that will stay with me, I just know it.
I recommend Local Whispers / The Woman at No. 13, 5 stars.

I found the woman at number 13 a strange book that didn’t really live up to its write up! I persevered through and it felt like wading through treacle!
Kate a respected small town GP is accused of murder, she calls her long term friend to come over and be her support through this difficult time as it feels like the whole town has turned against her, making threats, causing actual bodily harm and surrounding Kate’s house!
What follows is a confusing array of names all coerced into a group trying to maim who they think is the murderer!
Thank you netgalley for this early read!
No unable to review on goodreads as does t appear to be on there!

A well loved and respected small town doctor goes from hero to villain after the blood of a murdered teenage girl is found in the doctor’s home. Kate O’Leary is shocked at the reaction of the people she called friends, people who had trusted her with their lives. Tried and found guilty by the press and court of public opinion, Kate knows the only way to prove her innocence is to find the killer herself. It’s a toss up as to who is scarier – the killer or the people who are willing to turn on the main character at the drop of a hat

I did try with this story but just could not get into it and eventually gave up. The description sounded good but sorry, this book wasnt for me

Jannis is from Germany and Kate is from Belfast. Some years ago, they met when they were staying at hostels in Australia. Now, years later, they are still friends.

Jannis runs an advertising agency in Germany and Kate is a physician in Belfast. She has just called Jannis to come to Belfast as she has been arrested and a suspect in the murder and dismemberment of her patient, 17-year-old Alice.

Jannis gets her out of jail on bail. The townspeople are suspicious of her. There are numerous people such as the priest, Alice’s parents, and others.

The book delves into Catholic and Protestant religion differences. It also is about abortion and gay and lesbian characters. There is a lot of drinking, arguing, and miserable weather. As much as I tried, I could not find anything truly compelling about this depressing story.

In addition, I read this book entitled “The Woman at No. 13” not the original title of “Local Whispers.” Very confusing.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.