I had expected this to be much darker than it was. But I still really enjoyed it. Perfect 24 hour read.
Throughout the book I had tried to figure out what happened to Lana. I ended up being wrong every time. Which I liked. I hate figuring it out too early.

A depressed teenager goes missing, then won't say where she's been when she reappears. One thing that's obvious is that she's been hurt - the cuts and bruises attest to that. This novel is nothing like the author's first, Elizabeth Goes Missing - but it is none the worse for that. A mystery with a sad, almost broken family at its heart, this book slowly drew me in and kept me guessing to the finish. When it did end, it was unexpectedly moving.

I was so excited when I heard that I'd been accepted for an ARC copy! I loved Elizabeth Is Missing, Healey's first book, and I did not shut up about it for months so I knew I would be excited for her second.

Whistle In The Dark is very different in plot to Elizabeth Is Missing as it focuses more on family relationships and the way that familial love can be both positive and negative in it's intensity. Hence, the plot is a lot slower, it's very character based, and I found that while the central mystery of those four missing days kept me reading on, so did Jen's relationship with her daughter. I related to both Jen and Lana, though through Jen's lens Lana is very frustrating as a character, but you do see the good in her too. It was also great to see that the plot did not go where I thought it would, due to a few red herrings early on in the story.

Personally I think I will always love Elizabeth Is Missing more, but I have a feeling that Whistle In the Dark is a grower. They are very different books in terms of plot, but both play to Healey's strengths in her ability to really connect with readers through her thoughtful portrayal of very emotional themes. The ending itself was brilliantly written, because while it would have been easy to go for a very dark, shocking end, instead you are left contemplating Jen and how the events have brought her closer to her distant daughter. It speaks to a wider theme of how mutually understanding people rather than giving in to that impulse to immediately try and fix the situation, (as if there'll be one question and one answer that will magically resolve everything) can bring us closer together and create a feeling of solidarity.

Overall I really liked Whistle In the Dark and Emma Healey will remain a firm favourite of mine, and I will definitely be picking up a physical copy (and probably recommending it to everyone within earshot too).

Half way through and I have given up. not enough action to keep me interested i'm afraid.

I really loved Emma Healey's book Elizabeth is Missing so was delighted to get an advance copy of her new book. However I'm sorry to say that I didn't really enjoy it. It was very slow throughout and didn't really keep me interested.

I was underwhelmed by this book. It started out promising but just couldn't keep up the momentum.

On a sketching holiday with her Mum, depressed teenager Lana goes missing.
Written in short chapters, the story takes on a stilted, mysterious air as the dysfunctional family try to make sense of the disappearance.
A well written story of a family crisis but somehow did not hold my attention.

Having loved Emma Healey’s debut, “Elizabeth is Missing,” I was thrilled to receive a review copy of her second novel, “Whistle in the Dark.” I was a little concerned that I may not have loved this as much, but I am pleased to say that, if anything, I thought this was easily as good – if not even better. It has definitely been one of my favourite novels of the year.

Jen and Hugh are a fairly ordinary, middle aged, middle class couple. Their eldest daughter, Meg, has left home, but younger daughter, Lana, still lives at home. Lana is a troubled young girl, who has harmed herself before and is having therapy. Jen is desperate to get some of that mother and daughter closeness back and so, in May half term, the two go to the Peak District for a painting holiday. However, the unthinkable happens and Lana goes missing. For four whole days she vanishes, only to be discovered, virtually safe and well – a little shaken, a little bruised, but alive.

I have to say that I simply loved the character of Jen. She is devastated by her daughter’s loss and relived when she is found, but also so frustrated by Lana’s inability to tell her what happened. Lana swears she doesn’t remember. Jen doesn’t believe her. When the family return home, Jen is plagued by self doubts, recriminations and paranoia. She searches through Lana’s social media accounts, scrutinises her memories of the trip, follows her daughter to school, questions her friends and spies on her. Meanwhile, Meg, who has her own news to impart, is impatient with the way that she feels Jen always gives in to Lana.

Healey perfectly captures that feeling of your children growing up and away from you. Of the all consuming love that you have for them, no matter what their behaviour may be. Of your desperate desire to protect them… This is a clever, sharp and well written novel, which would be ideal for reading groups, as there is so much to discuss. The subject matter may sound dark, but there is a lot of humour in this novel and all of the characters are well rounded, sympathetic and entirely realistic. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Emma Healey does it again and produces another classic.

Lovely, touching, amazing, thrilling. You could use ALL the positive words to describe this book. Healey's ability to write fully realised people you bellieve in and can relate to is amazing. Will be looking forward to the next one.

Great idea but I found it difficult to fully believe in the characters and regrettably the book did not hold my interest. I loved Emma's first book though and will definitely read more by this author.

I really enjoyed reading Emma's other novel (Elizabeth is missing) so was intrigued to know what her new novel would be about.

It tells the story of a mother Jen and her fractured relationship with her teenage daughter Lana who is prone to suicidal thoughts and self harm. From my take on the book I read Lana as a confused adolescent struggling with anxiety and feelings that she isn't loved which leads her to put on an act to the world but which is so thin and fragile she feels constantly judged. The feelings she experiences leads her to make up stories with the friends she hangs out with and her tendency to self harm.

Jen conversely is so desperate to save her daughter that she smothers her with questions and projects her only feelings of inadequacy onto Lana.

The story tells of the mother and daughter taking a painting hobby in Derbyshire and Lana's four day disappearance which makes local news. The story picks up after Lana has been found and taken to hospital to recover.

Whilst I really enjoyed the emotive characters in the book, I struggled to feel like much actually happened in the story, other than Jen constantly questioning her daughter as to where she had been and asking if she had tried to harm herself, or had someone taken her. When you discover what did actually happen it's a bit of a let down to be honest, but I can see why the author did it that way.......though I'll still never understand why Jen doesn't use her mobile to call for help......

So in all I probably wouldn't rush to recommend this book but an interesting read if you have the time and enjoyed the author's other work.

This new book from Emma Healey is an engaging, entertaining and enthralling look into the world of Jen as she comes to terms with the disappearance and reappearance of her teenage daughter. I found myself flying through this book, as it is very easy to read. The dialogue and prose is very snappy with some genuinely hilarious lines. I was a little disappointed with the development of the plot as although it was entertaining reading, I felt not a lot happened for large portions. All in all, a very enjoyable read.

Emma Healey writes about family life and all it's oddness and eccentricities really well. I loved Elizabeth is Missing and thought Whistle in the Dark was good. Not as good because half way through I started to get frustrated with Lana and her attitude towards her mum's feelings. Her 'I don't know 'and 'I can't remember ' comments seemed repetitive. I thought the ending was brilliant and felt relieved I finally found out what had happened to Lana.

I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t get into it and it jumped around too much with no real substance.
There were flashes of brilliance which meant I trudged through it, but overall I didn’t particularly enjoy it.

I enjoyed this book and shows how little we can understand of others and end up projecting what we think they should be feeling on them rather than listening to what is wrong.

I would read more by this author as also enjoyed Elizabeth is Missing.

I was first attracted to this book by the unusual cover, and then I realised Emma Healey is the author of Elizabeth is Missing, which I already own but haven't got around to reading yet (I think I should have that written on my tombstone).

How do you rescue someone who has already been found?

Whistle in the Dark is a mystery/family drama, and unusual in that the story starts at the moment fifteen-year-old Lana is found safe and well after being missing for four days in the Peak District. Lana and her mother Jen had been on a mother-daughter bonding holiday at an artists' retreat. Lana, depressed and self-harming, hides behind her sulky teenager persona, whereas Jen tries (and fails) not to be a helicopter parent. While overjoyed to have Lana back home, Jen becomes increasingly obsessed with finding out exactly what happened to her daughter during those four missing days - because Lana is saying nothing.

Any parent of teenagers will identify with Jen; desperate to do the best for her daughter and yet infuriated by Lana's unwillingness to open up and confide in her (typical teenager, basically). I loved the characters, especially Jen's husband (and Lana's father) Hugh, reassuringly pragmatic and easy-going, and happy just to have his daughter back.

Whistle in the Dark is mainly about family relationships and the unravelling of Jen's sanity as she worries about her daughter. (I loved the imaginary cat!) The mystery about what happened to Lana almost takes second place, but it kept me guessing and I only managed to work out part of it before the end. There is a nail-biting ending, but anyone expecting a fast-paced, psychological/thriller type story with a lot of twists might be disappointed. I think it would appeal best to fans of authors such as Joanna Cannon. But I found it very well-written, with brilliant characters I could really identify with, and I absolutely loved it. One of my favourite reads this year.


I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this book, which will be published in the UK on the 3rd May 2018.

Thank you to Emma Healey, Viking, and NetGalley for my copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Viking through my membership of NetGalley. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences.
On the last day of an artist’s retreat in picturesque Derbyshire with her mother Jen, teenager Lana goes missing and is not found for four days. Jen is beside herself with worry. Lana is a troubled girl and has dark depressions during which she has told her mother she wants to die. When Lana is found four days later she appears apathetic and dazed, she is injured and covered with grazes and scratches, she is cold and wet, but she will not explain why. She is vague about what has happened to her and does not want to talk about her four missing days. Her therapist advises her family to be patient, but the police are keen to close the case and, during interviews, Lana insists she had been alone all of the time and must have got lost when she walked from her bedroom to the wash room in the dark to collect her toilet bag which she had accidentally left behind.
As the weeks of recovery at home in London go by, Jen is desperate to find out the truth. Lana has changed beyond belief and seems interested in nothing. She is uncommunicative, sad and lost. Their relationship feels more fractured than ever and Jen cannot reach Lana any more. She can’t live with the uncertainty of not knowing what Lana has been through. There are a few clues though, but these puzzle Jen more than ever. She cannot work out their significance. As their family life deteriorates and Lana does not want to go out or return to school, Jen realises that her daughter has become afraid of being in dark places; even in her own bedroom without the light left on. She cannot help but worry and think about what could have happened to change her so much. She just cannot let it go, so decides to carry out her own investigations.
'Whistle in the Dark' is slow paced, dark and depressing. There’s a pervading mood of doom and despondency throughout the entire story. It’s never going to get any better and the outcome seems preordained. The novel is well written but does feel as if it is rambling at times with lots of unrelated detail. I felt sorry for Lana’s family and had great empathy with Jen who wanted nothing more than to help and support her younger daughter through her troubling times. But Jen had unresolved issues of her own and can’t handle the tension and sense of everything being out of kilter. I definitely disliked how the story ended, which was really disappointing after investing a lot of time reading the story, hoping there would be lighter moments. This book was not to my taste at all.

Jen’s daughter goes missing for four days whilst on as art holiday in the Pesk District (England). When she is found, she won’t say what happened to her. She was self-harming and had suicidal thoughts before she went missing, so everyone thinks the worst and hopes for the best. She is found, and they go back to London together, and try to live with what has happened. But it’s not that easy. Jen desperately wants to know what happened to Lana during this time, and has scenarios running through her mind constantly. I did wonder if Jen had mental health issues as well, and I’m still left wondering that after I’ve finished the book. Hugh, Jen’s husband and Lana’s dad, is a nice character: thoughtful, reliable. Jen is hard work, and Lana is VERY hard work. A confused, scared teenager, who comes across as selfish and unpleasant (so an average teenager in some cases).
The end of the book seemed to sum it all up: it appeared to me to be a self-realisation.
Worth a read, even though it can be quite hard-going at times.

Thanks to Net Galley & Penguin Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Jen and her fifteen year old daughter Lana are on holiday when Lana goes missing for four days, she does turn up safely but with no memory of where she was or what happened to her.
Jen desperately wants to know what happened her daughter, she feels even though she has Lana home safely that they are very far apart.
I did not enjoy this book at all, the entire story was about Jen trying to put together the puzzle of what happened to Lana. I did not like Jen or her daughter, the story is very slow, struggled on to the end as I hate giving up on a book, however,the ending was as disappointing as the entire book.

Most missing persons books focus on the abduction and search - this book focuses on the aftermath. When Jen and Hugh's daughter is returned to them after being missing for days, the nightmare is only just beginning. The questions about where Lana has been and with whom crackle and fizz around their family, with the spiky teenager being completely uncooperative. I thought the pace flagged a little in the middle, but I very much enjoyed the ending, which managed to be both nail-biting and satisfying.