Member Reviews
A cottage in the picturesque village of Avoncote promises a new life for Stina, her husband Jack and their expected new baby. Stina is a freelance author who will work from home while doing renovations to the old house. Jack is a veterinarian beginning a country practice. It looks perfect on the surface but as Stina and Jack will discover, things are not what they seem.
For instance, what is it about their elderly next-door neighbor Mrs. Barley that makes the townspeople avoid her? To Stina and Jack, she’s a kindly, lonely woman who plys them with delicious baked goods. To others, she’s a witch. Who is the strange man who visits her…the man that only Stina can see? Why are the two houses connected by a shared attic? There’s more, so much more.
Whisper Cottage, part mystery, part horror and all thriller, is impossible to put down. You don’t know who or what to believe. The plot quickly pulls you in and doesn't let go until the shocking and totally surprising conclusion. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Anne Wyn Clark for this ARC.
Oh my goodness - just loved it. I had no idea what to expect but it wasn't this. Not sure on the beginning but the ending was brilliant. Have just finished a session reading this book non-stop before I start dong anything today it was that good.
This was a very English book and the familiar locations was really interesting, haven't read a book set near Stratford for a while.
My mind went one way sometimes during the book but then found that was a red herring.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
A story hinting at mystic, spiritual and ghostly happenings with bizarre incidents that cause alarm and confusion. The lovely young couple who move in to their idyllic country cottage soon become concerned by the odd behaviour of their elderly neighbour, Mrs Barley. Shunned by the villagers, she was regarded as an oddball at best, a witch at worst. Like something from the middle ages, those that don’t understand someone will invent a scenario that fits their agenda. Stina and Jack find themselves warming to her as she shows them and their new baby daughter kindness. However, Stina, in particular sees things that upset and alarm her but she is reassured by the calm presence of Jack. The story develops and although there are devastating developments along the way, it doesn’t really instill fear into the reader. Maybe because I am of cynical nature and always look for a realistic reason behind unusual events, I found myself waiting for a sensible explanation. Eventually it came and while shocking did not have the impact I had hoped for.
Not too sure about this book. It wasn’t obvious where it was heading. I think there were maybe too many storylines for this type of book. I finished it, but didn’t really enjoy it.
Stina and Jack are so happy- she's pregnant, they've bought a cottage, and Jack is settling into his new job (he's a vet) in the village, And they have a good neighbor in Mrs. Barley, even if others call her a witch. Yes, she does do some odd things but she's kind, especially after Elodie is born. But what about her rituals? What about her husband Frank? What secrets does she harbor? And btw, Jack, who is a good guy has a small secret too. No spoilers from me. This one has creepiness but it never descends into horror (thank goodness). It may sag a bit in spots but it's still a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me.
I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Whisper Cottage’ by Ann Wyn Clark in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Stina and Jack move to ‘Whisper Cottage’, a semi-detached house in the sleepy hamlet of Avoncote. The adjoining house, ‘Rose Cottage’ is owned by Mrs Barley, an elderly widow who soon becomes a friend and when Stina gives birth to Elodie she’s happy to help and babysit for her daughter. Stina is woken at night by sounds in their shared loft and when she asks Mrs Barley if she’s had a visitor she denies it. Then she sees a stranger in Mrs Barley’s garden but when nobody else sees him she thinks her mind’s playing tricks.
‘Whisper Cottage’ is about a young couple who’re starting afresh and the old lady who lives next door to them who’s the subject of wicked rumours. All three of them have secrets they want to keep hidden. It has a well-written plot that’s part mystery/part ghost story and gets quite chilling at times. The more involved I got with the story and the characters developed further, the more intrigue, menace and suspense emerged with an added ghostly haunting in the background leaving a taste of witchery and spiritual beings. I became so engrossed in the story I couldn’t stop reading and the pages kept turning as I had to find out how the story was going to evolve. I should have guessed the ending but didn’t, so the final twist was a total surprise and completely unexpected. This is an easy to book to read and very enjoyable.
Received a kindle copy of this book from Netgalley.
Newlyweds Stina and Jack are expecting their first child and decide to move from the city to a cottage in a small village to start a new life.
Their next door neighbour is an old lady who is rather quirky to say the least. The couple become friendly with the neighbour despite all the villagers warnings. Strange things start to happen and Stina starts to wonder, is the neighbour behind it all?
I expected this book to be more of a fast paced thriller however I'd say its more of a mystery. The book to me was a slow burner, I'm not sure whether this was because I wasn't a fan of Stina's character. I did however find Mrs Barley character was intriguing, I felt creeped out by her but also she came across as a lovely old lady.
I do feel that because the book was a slow burner, I'd lost a little interest by the time all was revealed. The revelations at the end however, were very good and I hadn't managed to guess any of the ending.
Stina and Jack Mason decide on a complete change of lifestyle when Stina announces she is pregnant. They get married, buy a country cottage at Avoncote and Jack, who is a vet, finds a better paying job although the hours are a bit longer. Their home, Wisteria Cottage, needs a bit of work but the young couple is prepared for that. Their neighbour, the elderly Mrs Barley, is very friendly and helpful towards them and Stina can’t understand the antipathy the other villagers have towards her.
Stina notices a strange man in next door’s garden on a couple of occasions but Mrs Barley disavows any knowledge of this stranger and Jack is yet to see him. Stina also hears some strange noises overhead during the night, as if things are being dragged around in the combined attic space of the two houses. But again, there is no evidence of any strange goings on. Soon enough baby Elodie is born and Mrs Barley is an invaluable help to Stina although she does have some strange, almost pagan, beliefs. There is a shrine to her beloved dead husband, Frank, in her home. She believes in the power of crystals and is friends with a crow she calls Corvus! As Mrs Barley and Stina are looking at some photos from Mrs Barley’s past she realises that the mysterious visitor is the spitting image of Frank. Is Stina seeing a ghost? Or is the answer far more prosaic?
Well this started a bit on the slow side but ended with a bang! Yet even at the start I was fully engaged with this book. There was a creepy, unsettling vibe throughout the whole book. It wasn’t scary at all but it did feel a bit menacing and I was worried for the whole Mason family. As is customary in psychological thrillers the major characters all had secrets to protect, some more than others. As it turns out Mrs Barley was a very dark horse indeed. I really liked her character. That’s not to say she was entirely likeable but she was enigmatic and very interesting. It was quite clear she was hiding something dark! I was almost desperate to find out what was going with Mrs Barley. The rest of the villagers had a very poor opinion of her and some even considered her a witch although she was nothing but supportive of Stina and Jack.
For a change, the husband (Jack in this case) was not a lowlife but a loving and supportive partner to Stina - even if he had a teeny little secret of his own. Stina herself had a troubled childhood and lacked some confidence but she was not the usual whiny, hysterical female so I warmed to her immediately. Towards the end of the story the twists came thick and fast but there was nothing over the top and they all made sense. The book was well written and quite plausible and I actually really enjoyed it. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the complimentary ARC which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
When Stina and Jack move into an old rural cottage, they're hoping for a fresh start. Their new home is run down compared to their neighbours, but generous Mrs Bradley quickly becomes a friend. Until Stina sees a mysterious figure in the widow's garden, and her happy new life begins to unravel.
When Stina and Jack move next door to Mrs Barley, It's not long before strange events start happening. The villagers call Mrs Barley a witch. Stina starts seeing a man in Mrs Barley's garden but no one else ever sees him. Jack and Mrs Barley think she's exhausted after having a baby and her mind is playing tricks on her.
I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue surrounding this novel. The prologue is quite disturbing and shocking. The suspense develops slowly. The characters were well developed. A tale full of rumours and secrets which are eventually revealed. The book is descriptively written. The ending was a bit rushed and disappointing.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #AnneWynClark for my ARC OF #WhisperCottage in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook of this title in exchange for my review.
This book is listed as a suspense/psychological thriller, but really felt like an overly long mystery. It was difficult to finish this book because it felt so slow in story progression. I doubt I would seek out another book by this author.
A very atmospheric read with plenty of undertones of the supernatural and past secrets to be discovered and unfold.
I really enjoyed this book, the basis being a new mother with all that entails, hormones, exhaustion, vulnerability and the hope and promise of a new life. Her neighbour is an elderly lady who seems to have a mixed personality, often incredibly helpful and caring but occasionally a darker side which seems to manifest, backed up or caused by the deep,suspicion the rest of the village seem to have of her.
I loved the way the mysteries and characters were built up and all the way through I was as uncertain about what might be going on as the main character was, so I felt I was on the voyage of discovery with her.
I guessed the ending but it did not detract from the story as a whole and I was still left with a sense of mystery and slightly unsettled. A good read, would recommend.
I had not read anything by this author before but was drawn to the story. Whisper Cottage is a mystery story rather than a psychological thriller. It has ghosts, suspense, secrets, rumours and creepy goings on. I was intrigued to find out what was going on. The twist surprised me as I wasn't expecting it.
I recommend this book as a holiday read or for a cosy afternoon on the sofa with a cuppa.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
I am a bit on the fence with this one. I found it to be quite slow paced, and with lots of characters and storylines to fill in gaps which I don’t actually think need filling?
The idea was good, and i definitely enjoyed the last few chapters although I wouldn’t say I was totally invested. I didn’t like Stina at all - and a lot of time I just kept thinking why?! But then again maybe that’s the point!!
A slow burner that didn’t have the twists I would have hoped for.
This was a quite enjoyable read , slightly spooky and tense . It was well written and compulsive reading . It didn’t go in the direction I thought it was going to go and I was slightly disappointed with the end , hence the 4 stars . I would like to read another from this author in the future though .
Here comes my most unpopular review...
Stina and Jack moved to a quiet village hut to start their lives fresh. They meet a new neighbor, Mrs. Bradley who seemed to be friendly with the couple. Until Stina sees a mysterious man coupled with the noises coming from the Bradley's house.
OK, the synopsis initially found it appealing but however as I read, the plot was boring, the story in general as a whole was boring to me that I almost DNF.. It was slow and I just only skimmed through the book. I didn't really like the main character, Stina much. The only thing I liked about this book was the vivid descriptions of the village that makes the reader feel like they are in the village and the writing was ok.
Overall, this book worth 2.5 stars. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
💭 ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was a big slow burn. There was a very long (300 pages), but good build up on the suspense and I enjoyed the interactions with and the mysteriousness of Mrs Barley. However, the big revelations fell a bit short and a lot of mysteries remained unsolved. The prologue was amazing and I just wished the rest of the book was a little bit more like that.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤓 ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Slow burns
Long chapters
ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ:
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯-𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳’𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘔𝘳𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.
𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘸’𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘔𝘳𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦-𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦?
I can honestly say that I was intrigued with this book from beginning to end. Just when I would think I had things figured out, I would discover that I was wrong. I recommend this book for anyone that loves a good mystery. It will literally keep you guessing until the very last page!
This is one of those addictive thrillers that draws you in from the first page! Stina and Jack have just moved into a lovely rural area to get away from the crime-ridden city as Stina is about to give birth to their first child. Their elderly neighbor, Mrs. Barley seems to be a kind woman, always ready with treats and helpful hints, but there is gossip about her that is less than kind. So when Stina sees a man traipsing through her garden, she becomes suspicious and even more so when she begins to hear noises at night. What secrets are being kept and who is to blame for odd happenings? I enjoyed this as it's different than most thrillers
Thank you to Avon books, Anne Wyn Clark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
The Whisper Cottage begins with a flashback of 1964, which is equally disturbing and appalling. In 2012, Stina and Jack have moved to Avoncote when she becomes pregnant with their first child.
Wisteria Cottage, as their new home is called, is the perfect fixer-upper for them. Rose Cottage, owned by their neighbor Mrs. Barley, is a shining example of what their home could be when fixed up. Mrs. Barley, an old widow, has been living alone for years and is quite infamous in Avoncote. The Locals believe she is a witch, who practices voodoo on anyone who wrongs her. Stina and Jack agree to give her the benefit of the doubt, but when strange things happen all around them, they start to believe some of the rumours.
While The Whisper Cottage is both suspenseful and creepy, the conclusion is, unfortunately, disappointing. It led the reader to expect something paranormal and really the conclusion is creepier, but a let-down. Without talking about spoilers, I will just say that it was more personal than paranormal.
Stina moves into a cottage with her husband and at first bonds with her elderly neighbour, but then there is a mysterious man who comes into the garden who the old lady denies any knowledge of, and there are some strange occurrences which Stina’s neighbour seems to be involved in. What is the truth behind the strange happenings?
Whisper Cottage was an ok read but lost me a bit in the second half of the book.