The Whisper Man by Alex North is a 2019 Celadon Books publication.

Unsettling, spine-tingling, and emotionally charged thriller!

After the untimely death of his wife, Tom Kennedy feels like a fresh start in a new location, might help him and his young son, Jake, move forward from their grief and begin the healing process. But almost immediately after moving to Featherbank, a new set of problems presents themselves. Jake has trouble adjusting to his new school, just as another boy Jake’s age goes missing. The child’s disappearance prompts concerns that another serial killer is on the loose in Featherbank- one with the same MO as the dreaded ‘Whisper Man’ who murdered five people twenty years ago. The case becomes personal for Tom and Jake when Jake begins having nightmares, claiming he can hear someone whispering to him at his window….

Meanwhile, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis are working overtime to find this missing boy before another child disappears…

I’ve been avoiding hyped up thrillers, books that everyone is reading, and mostly gushing over, because my experience with these situations has taught me a few hard lessons- mainly, don’t buy into the hype, because I’m only setting myself up for a big disappointment. But, earlier this year, another book by this same publisher became a huge sleeper hit, and although I was highly skeptical, I caved and checked the book out the library. Well, much to my surprise, the book was very good. So, when ‘The Whisper Man’ started to generate a little buzz, I decided to jump on board the already crowded train, just see if lightning might strike twice… And lo and behold, it did!!

But, to be honest, when one gets right down to the nitty and the gritty, this book is basically another thriller with a serial killer trope. However, what sets it apart from so many other cookie-cutter novels in this category, is the characterizations, and the author’s ability to explore the real psychology behind the character’s actions, without compromising the intensity of the real terror one feels while reading this book. The story is packed with strange, creepy, atmospheric vibes, promising Tom and Jake are being threatened by true evil.

While the mystery is compelling, and the atmosphere is thick and heavy, the author takes a story of horror and dread, and adds in a deeper, more complex angle- a topic that isn’t explored often enough in general fiction, much less in a thriller- the dynamics of the father-son relationship.

The story is very masculine, with the few female characters being suspect, bland, or not very nice-like Jake’s teacher, for example. I never bristled though, because the male leads are portrayed as flawed, burdened, troubled, and vulnerable, and the book never once veered off into an alpha male, testosterone driven story.

From start to finish this is a well written, intense, highly suspenseful thriller- but it is also smart and profound, ending not only with extreme, exhilarating relief, as I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding- 😉, but also on a note of redemptive satisfaction.

Overall, this is another winner for Celadon Books, but as a reader, I’m super excited about Alex North! If this is his debut novel, I wonder how much his talent will develop over time.

5 stars

This book completely freaked me out but I couldn't put it down!! I thought about it and dreamt about it for days after finishing it!! If your one who loves a good thriller this is the book for you! Alex North has a gifted and twisted mind!

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

Five Creepy Spooky Stars

'If you leave a door half open, you'll hear the whisper spoken.
If you play outside alone soon you won 't be going home.
If your Windows left unlatched, you'll hear him tapping at the glass.
If your lonely, sad, and blue, the whisper man will come for you.

Tom Kennedy has just lost his wife and he and his seven year old son, Jake move to Featherbank.

Unfortunately there is a serial killer that is preying on this small town and an investigation is going on.

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.

Then twenty years later a boy in the town goes missing and it looks like what happened twenty years ago is starting all over again, but the whisper man from twenty years ago is in jail, so who is this Whisper Man. Amanda Beck and Pete Willis are on the hunt to find the boy before it is too late.

This book grabbed me from the very beginning and did not let go until the end. I loved this book. It was so spooky and creepy and it had a supernatural sinister vibe to it. This is a fast paced read with very short chapters which I love. I wish every book was written with short chapters.

This is a dark suspenseful thriller. It is so addicting. I love serial killer books and this one kept me guessing. Just the idea of a serial killer whispering at people's Windows at night freaks me out. I really loved the premise of this book. You will want to read this one at night with the light on.
This book is very creepy but the way that it is written, I do not think that it was scary. It was an intense read.

My favorite character was Jake, and he was so real. His character was so well developed. He just came to life. I loved reading about him.

This was a Traveling Friends group read.

I want to thank Celadon Books for the free arc of the book in exchange for a honest review.
143 likes

This is a very dark, tense, engrossing thriller. I enjoyed the characters, especially Jake as he was such an interesting young boy. The one part I did not like was in regard to the bad person and without giving spoilers, I can't really say anything more than that.

The Whisper Man by Alex North is one of those books that captures your attention instantly and stays in your mind long after the last page is turned. Tom Kennedy and his seven-year-old son Jake move to the English small town of Featherbank to start a new life after the sudden death of Tom's wife. It was in Featherbank that, twenty years before, a psychopath had abducted and killed five young boys. Detective Pete Willis did not rest until Frank Carter was arrested and jailed forever for these horrible crimes. Carter was called the Whisper Man because the parents of the victims reported that their children had said that a man was whispering outside their bedroom window before the abductions. Now, after all this time, another boy disappears and his mother mentions that her son had said he heard a man whispering outside the window. Detectives Pete Willis and Amanda Beck believe that the perpetrator must be an accomplice of the Whisper Man. And then, little Jake Kennedy hears whispers in the night! This book is more than creepy: what makes it shine is the sensitive way the author develops the relationships. This is not your average scary tale. So turn up the lights and close your curtains and sink into something you will not soon forget. Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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 windows left
unlatched, you'll hear him
tapping at the glass.

If you're lonely, sad, and
blue the Whisper Man
will come for you.

Sent shivers down my spine when I read this rhyme. This book is creepy with a supernatural vibe. A fast paced read, that grips you from the beginning. With chapters told in multiple POVs, the story never gets stale or boring. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A definite read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for a copy of Alex North's "The Whisper Man" in exchange of an honest review.

Good mystery! When a father and his son are caught in the middle of a search for a copycat serial killer who is following the footsteps of a man who is locked up in prison, The Whisper Man, the stakes are high. The detectives have guaranteed the safety of Jake after he hears voices in the night, and the race is on to catch the killer before Jake is lost. Thank you for my copy NetGalley!

I had such high hopes for this one because the premise sounded interesting and creeptastic. While I loved the character Jake, I just didn't feel sympathy or anything towards any other character. It's like going to a restaurant that everyone seems to love, but you leave feeling unsatisfied and still hungry for more...or something else entirely. I was expecting to have nightmares, and maybe that was a tall order for a debut novel. There is promise, but like I said, I wanted to be scared. The writing was beautiful though so that's why I am torn between 3 stars and 4...

3.5 Stars for The Whisper Man. This was creepy, atmospheric and a pretty good read. I was reading this while rocking my toddler in the middle of the night one night and had to put it down because I was sure I wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep... so deliciously creepy! I appreciated the original nature of the plot and for the most part it kept me guessing. I would have liked to have more insight into the killer's story and more character development for him, as I feel like the details of hi story fell into place so quickly at the end of the story. Overall this was a solid read and will be looking out for more from this author.

A great, ratching-up-the-tension thriller that may or may not involve supernatural elements, an aspect of the novel that will keep you guessing to the end. The Whisper Man also offers a multi-layered examination of father/son relationships in all its many guises. I look forward to seeing what author Alex North treats us to next.

This book definitely scores points for the creepiness factor.. Terrifying for parents especially. Children hear a "monster" whispering outside their window and then later disappear. The central child to the story also has a somewhat creepy "imaginary friend" who gives him foreboding warnings about things to come. I did think the creepy build up kind of then fell flat when it turned into mostly a police procedural by the end. There were a few good twists and a solid ending.

3.5 star rating. Alex North’s, The Whisper Man, was a suspenseful thriller. Tom and Jake Kennedy moved to a small town after the death of Tom’s wife, Rebecca. Father and son are having a hard time adjusting to their loss. A twenty year serial murder is lurking in the background. How does this relate to Tom and Jake. This story has a bit of paranormal, gruesome crime but is also a story about relationships and forgiveness. I received this book from Net Galley for review.

First of all, I'm very glad I didn't do too much research into this book before I started it. The book description on Goodreads gives away a major plot twist in the very first sentence!

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I could have read it in one or two sittings. I read a little bit here and there while I was reading other things and ended up very confused. There's a lot going on in this book and you have to really pay attention to see how it all ties together.

Tom and his son Jake move to Featherbank to start a new chapter in life. Tom's wife Rebecca died unexpectedly and he and Jake are still reeling from the loss. In addition, Jake has some challenges that aren't normal for a six year old (he hears voices, maybe sees ghosts?) so this kid really needs a break. Moving to a new town doesn't really help much at first. He's still hearing voices and his imaginary friend (is she a ghost or what??) is still around too.

The complications don't end there. Featherbank has had its share of tragedies. Several children went missing 20 years before. The kidnapper/killer, Frank Carter (AKA "The Whisper Man") was caught and is in prison where he belongs. But now there's another similar disappearance. Detective Pete Willis has always wondered if Carter had an accomplice, but visiting him in prison doesn't provide any answers and it also doesn't help Pete's precarious mental state.

I won't give away anything else. If you like suspense thrillers, you'll like this one!

3.5 stars

No real surprises here, but still a well written mystery with a few standout characters that held my interest. I found myself skimming through the last 20%, except for the very last chapter. That, I relished every single word.

ARC provided by NetGalley

OMG, I’ve found my first five star read of the year!! I’m blown away that this is Alex North’s debut and I’m hoping he will be writing more books of this capacity in the future.

The Whisper Man is a dark, unsettling, and suspenseful read. I wouldn’t recommend reading it in the dark/before bed because it definitely gives off creepy vibes. This checked off all the boxes of what I look for in a book - multiple POVs, fleshed-out characters, addictive writing that is full of surprises. I loved it so much that I went out and bought a hard copy for my shelf. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Alex North for the copy of The Whisper Man. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

Whisper is a word that can inspire many different reactions and emotions. It can be seductive, suggestive, confidential, exclusive, encouraging or threatening. In North's conjuring, the whisper becomes the creepiest thing imaginable. The soft, nearly silent utterance is the phonic equivalent of taking a shower in 'Psycho' or watching Pennywise's red balloon emerge from a sewer drain. It's a whisper that will chill you to the marrow. This feature transforms a somewhat routine killer-thriller into a gripping psychological cat-and-mouse game. There are other treats, as well: a few revelations along the plotted path to resolution that help elevate this tale from the humdrum. In fact, it may make you hesitate the next time you decide to .... Whisper.

The Whisper Man by Alex North was less of a suspenseful police procedural and more of a domestic drama dealing with the difficulties in father/son relationships and overcoming grief and loss. To a certain extent there is a mix of ghosts, serial killers, detectives. Somewhat slowly paced and was difficult for me to get into the story.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This is a creepy, scary novel with a supernatural undertone to it. A widowed husband and his ( I think slightly autistic, although it’s never actually said) son move to a small town to get away from sad memories. But this town is known for children who were murdered in the past from someone dubbed the Whisper Man, named so because this is how he lured them to him. Shortly after moving in strange things are happening and the man finds out the house they are in has a reputation of being a bad house. With the help of the police captain ( Little twist involved there) a culprit is caught, although not everything has a happy ending. Definitely a page turner.

I can’t give this book 5 stars, though, because there are a bit of things that are never explained. Any aspect of supernatural things going on at the house, for one. The widowed husband finding out some interesting things about his deceased wife are never brought up again. The reader is left hanging with questions that seem pertinent in the story and never followed up with anything else. The only disappointing part of the whole story.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!!

The Whisper Man was absolutely amazing. It has everything in a book that we all want. Suspense,

You will NOT be able to put this book down. I can promise you that.

The disappearance of young Neil Spencer seems a little too familiar to DI Pete Willis, who remains tortured by the missing body of a child from one of his cases decades prior. The Whisper Man, by Alex North (the author's name is an alias), is a new thriller that combines elements of the classic copycat serial killer storyline with an added hint of the paranormal. Even though he managed to capture the murderous "Whisper Man," Willis can't escape the guilt he feels for being unable to get closure. His attempts to get the convicted killer to reveal the location of his last victim only allows the murderer to torment him and reinforces Willis' sense of failure. His internal struggles and continuous battle against the addictions that cost him everything make Willis a layered and realistic character. In a parallel story arc, Jake is a contemplative and creative boy whose imaginary friends seem to be more ghostly and tragic than typical playmates. Tom, his novelist father, moves them to Featherbank after the accidental death of Jake's mother. This ineffective attempt is meant to help them both heal by removing themselves from the site of their painful memories. Their new house is deeply connected to the old Whisper Man case, however, and they soon become the target of a new killer whose MO is a mirror of the original. With a crafty imprisoned psychopath with inside knowledge and a misunderstood child/medium, the uncanny coincidences in this thrilling book may be a bit too reminiscent of plotlines from the Silence of the Lambs and "The Sixth Sense." Still, North's novel contains twists and reveals that remain surprisingly fresh, shocking and effective. The interior glimpse of the murderer's mind is cleverly portrayed, and the characters are well-written and genuine. With weighty themes including the "sins of the father", the destructive effects of addiction and abandonment, and redemption through forgiveness and selflessness, The Whisper Man manages to be an above average offering in an otherwise overcrowded genre.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.