This is my kind of book - creepy, mysterious, and un-put-downable. This is definitely one of the best thrillers of the summer and one that I will be recommending for a long time. But I will warn future readers: this is not for the faint of heart and should not be read at night...in the dark...in the house alone. I love great psychological thrillers but this is for sure one of the scarier ones I have ever read. Phenomenal debut.

The Whisper Man is an absolutely incredible debut. I found myself on the edge of my seat multiple times while reading. The story and characters are wonderfully woven together with multiple plot twists thrown in. There were quite a few parts in the story that truly caught me off guard. Not to mention, this book was eerie. The rhyme definitely gets stuck in your head as well.

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.

Perhaps it didn't help that I have a son just a couple years older than Jake, but this book gave me the chills on more than one occasion. The serial killers were artfully crafted and the main and supporting characters very well done. Honestly, the author has a great writing style that really hooks the reader. Especially when it comes to the relationship between Jake and his father, Tom. It was so believable and my heart hurt for them.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It definitely has me locking the doors tonight.

5 stars for The Whisper Man? Don't mind if I do! Ok, ok ... maybe not for the actual man himself ... because, yikes ... but, definitely for the book as a whole! I could not put this down and binge read it so hard. BRILLIANT!!! It gave me all those creepy vibes I crave in a thriller.... I read this during the day and have to admit that a couple of times I was pretty freaked out and had to get up and walk around, you know, just to make sure the doors were locked ... nobody peeking through the mail slot, that sort of thing. Just taking precautions, that's all.

So!! If you appreciate dark, disturbing storylines that keep you guessing you're going to need to pick up this book! And if you start hearing whispers while you're reading .... well, I'll just leave it at that.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!!! #TheWhisperMan #NetGalley

Intense, creepy, crime, mystery. The hunt is on for an abducted child with similarities to a 20 year old solved serial child killer case. This book sucks you right into the story and is hard to put down. The story is told from several perspectives, including the police involved, not only in the current case, but also in the old serial case. It shows the long lasting shock waves that affect a town experiencing these types of crimes.

Fasten your seatbelt, close your blinds, and get ready for the ride! What an engrossing book! It was just frightening enough to allow me to enjoy it – I’m such a chicken! – and not so scary that I had to quit reading.

This book has it all, a great story, terrific characters (I loved the deepening relationship between Jake and his Daddy), twists, murders, excitement, suspense, missing children, detectives, believability, and a superb ending.

It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys this thrilling genre, and I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Whisper Man. It was excellent.

I found this book to be more emotional than I was expecting. Each of the main characters we follow are struggling with something very dark and it really makes them very human. I also found that in this book the crimes almost take a back seat to the reactions to the crime. We (thankfully since the book is about children) get very little details about the crimes itself. It again, gives a very real human feel. You really root for these characters because they are so relatable. This is obviously a very character driven book. I found the book to be creepy and suspenseful but not overly given the subject matter so that was good. It was handled very tastefully. I found myself hopeful yet heartbroken at the end which isn’t something you normally get from a thriller. It is one that will stick with you for sure.

One of the creepiest thrillers of this summer. My customers who enjoy Thomas Harris will love this serial killer mystery from a debut author. Great plot twists and likable characters. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

For sure, this is a book I didn't want to put down - but for two reasons: First and by far foremost, yes, it's that good. Second, I was trying my best to finish before a cataract removal made it next to impossible to read anything, even with a bumped-high font on my Kindle. Happily (sort of), I made it - almost. The best I could do the night before my surgery was get close to the 90% mark, leaving me frustrated and chomping at the bit to get to the end. The day after surgery - with help from a pair of readers, a magnifying glass and a whole lot of determination, I finally got there.

And what a treat it was! Since it's still difficult to read (and therefore write), I'll necessarily keep my review short; but suffice it to say I enjoyed every thrilling page. For openers, a young boy has gone missing, and similarities soon point detectives to older murders by a serial killer known as the "Whisper Man." But that killer is in jail, so the theories are that there's a copycat on the loose or that the original killer had an accomplice. So strong is the connection that Detective Inspector Pete Willis, who worked the missing boy's case 20 years earlier and is the only person ever allowed to meet with the jailed killer, has been called in to help once again. That case has haunted him ever since - no body was ever found and the killer refuses to reveal the whereabouts - so he's understandably reluctant to get involved again.

Enter a second storyline as readers meet young Jake, whose mother died tragically. His father, a writer, is tryig his best to connect with his son even though both were devastated by the mother's death. The son, Jake, carries around a Packet of Special Things as a sort of security blanket, and he also "talks" to an unseen by anyone else young girl and, worse, hears a man's voice whispering to him on occasion. When Jake's dad moves them to a creepy old house that Jake inexplicably loves in Featherbank - the same community in which the boy went missing - things start to get really crazy.

And that's where I'll leave it. There are a couple of plot twists that keep things intriguing, and the character development keeps it interesting as well. This one, I think, deserves to be a winner - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Yall. I couldn’t read this book at night. It was scary. And I almost stopped reading it cause it was so terrifying.

I love a good thriller, and this novel has moved up to the top of the list! I was lucky enough to receive this arc on Netgalley, then also got one in my mailbox! So when I opened it, it came with all the usual arc stuff, then this CREEPY card. It sang:

“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.”

Yall. I couldn’t listen to the whole card! It was so scary. The book was scary. But it was so good.

The Whisper Man had stories told from multiple POVs – all of which were interesting. I especially liked Jake, the little boy. He was so sweet and I just wanted to hug him. The creepiest, by far, were the three chapters told from the killer’s POV. I still get chills thinking about them.

The Whisper Man was definitely a page turner. I didn’t want to put it down, but also didn’t want nightmares. It left me in quite the conundrum. The chapters were really short. It makes it easier to stop reading at the end of a chapter, but also say, ‘Oh, one more chapter and I’ll do this or that’. Then you end up reading five more.

There was a crazy dynamic between Jake, his dad Tom, and the police officer Pete. It blew. my. mind. I loved it!

Then Chapter 37 blew my mind. Yes, I made a note about this specific chapter because I was so surprised!

Honestly, there wasn't much I didn't like. There was one part where Pete says profiling is bullshit. I mean, to each their own, but I believe I missed my call as a criminal profiler. I took personal offense to this. Ha!

I really liked The Whisper Man. It flowed nicely, I loved the development. Also – I ALMOST caught the killer! I was on the right track! I was v proud of myself.

I already have recommended this novel! I told my friend Erin, who is a mystery addict, that she HAS to get this novel when it comes out August 20! I need someone to talk about it with! Also I told my mom she’d have to read it.

If you like mysteries and thrillers please read this! It’s a fun, twisty ride with a great ending! Great debut novel from Alex North! I can’t wait to see what he does next.

I was especially intrigued by the blurb because I had read I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, a true crime account of the Golden State Killer, just the month prior. The Golden State Killer was known for casing his victims' homes months in advance and peeping under their windows at night. Before he was caught, he was even sighted peeping under a window and described as a ghostly figure in the bushes... So with that knowledge tucked under my belt, the Whisper Man really came to life for me, for better or for worse!

This story is far from your formulaic thriller that relies on the account of a high functioning alcoholic woman. We've had enough of those. This thriller is the first one that has properly creeped me out. (Most thrillers I read simply keep me in suspense with my curiosity. Maybe I'm choosing the wrong ones haha.) The creepy sensory descriptions were so vivid--not just visual imagery, but oral imagery too, hence Whisper Man. Creepy men. Creepy voices. Creepy kids. Creepy kids are the worst, man. Lots of suspense. (How are these disappearances still happening if Frank Carter is already incarcerated?)

It was past midnight by the time I reached the last 20% of the book, and at that point, I had to stay up and finish the rest, because it was too creepy for me to fall asleep until it was resolved. The end was really satisfying. And still creepy. Haunting.

My favourite thriller of 2019! Highly recommended for anyone who loves thrillers!

{Insert reviewer with her mouth wide open}
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Wow, what a fantastically different thriller.
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I started this one with one well meaning warning...Do Not Read This At Night 😱.
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Ok, and away we go. I had a definite The Blair Witch Project vibe. Super, super creepy. Is it supernatural? But wait their is a real missing child? Is the child crazy? Maybe. What in the world is going on 🤷🏻‍♀️. As the story progressed it turned into a police procedure story. Add in a side of family drama and it was a very, very well rounded Novel.
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I will absolutely recommend this one. It was well written. A very different premise, which led to one of my favorite thrillers this year. High praise as I have not been enjoying thrillers as of late!

I was lucky to get a copy of this book before it is released in August. Alex North did a great job of writing this awesome thriller and it was full of suspense!! The Whisper Man sure is creepy and keeps you on edge! I like that it went in between characters and how all the characters came together in the story. Such a creepy story and makes you want to keep an eye on your children 24/7!!!

The story is amazing!!! It was so good I totally got lost in the story. To have a serial killer that steals children and returns them dead but to have been cared for up until the murder baffles the local police. Then you also have a fledgling romance as well.

“If you’re lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.“ Twenty years ago Frank Carter was the Whisper Man, a serial killer of little boys in the town of Featherbank. The body of one of his victims was never found and Detective Inspector Pete Willis has never given up trying to convince the imprisoned murderer to reveal the location of the boy’s body. Now another boy has been taken and the police have to track down the person who may be either an accomplice or a copycat of the Whisper Man.

I usually dislike serial killer stories but I loved this one. It was suspenseful and scary at times, but at the heart of it was a really engaging father/son dynamic between Tom Kennedy and his 7 year old son, Jake. Jake has to be the most endearing kid ever - smart, sensitive and confused. He and Tom may be too much alike, and their attempts to communicate were really touching. Tom and Jake (and his imaginary friend) have unwittingly moved to Featherbank to try to start new lives after the death of Jake’s mother. They move to a creepy old house, about which their real estate agent really should have warned them. The book is mostly gore-free and not burdened with a lot of clichés. I would like to read more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Thrillers are tough for me but this one delivered. I really enjoyed it. It was suspenseful and creepy in more than one way (view spoiler) and I thought it was really well-done. This one grabbed me as a parent but not so much that it was too hard to read (I usually can't read child abduction stories) and the thrill factor was evenly paced. The characters were likable (the good guys anyway) and believable. This one may get some buzz!

The creepiest part of this novel is when 7 year old Jake talks to himself. Is he possessed? Is he hearing things? Overall, this book was creepy and I loved it. I was reading this one night when my cell phone rang beside me and I just about jumped out of my skin. There's nothing graphic but the book was chilling and suspenseful. So glad I was able to get an advanced copy!

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.