This was an excellent read, a supernatural thriller/mystery with a bit of historical fiction thrown in. Set mostly in highland Scotland around a town called Mossgow, the story is told mostly from the point of view of Annie both now and in the past before she lost her memory after, as a child she was in a car accident that killed her mother. In between the main narrative there are excerpts from the memoir of Moria McClean about the family curse and her great grandmother, her mother, brother and sister were the last witches to be burned in the area. Throw in a dodgy pastor and some other creepy religious types, a convicted murderer just released from prison and memories of cold hearted mothers. And Annie’s ‘murmurs’ with the visions that go along with them.
There were a couple of plot points I saw coming but otherwise it’s an intense and satisfying read.

I really liked the dark tone of the writing, but I didn't really connect with the story. I didn't really connect with Annie or any of the other characters and I started to lose track of what was going on.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the sese of foreboding. i wound up staying up late into the evening reading because i needed to see what was happening. It kept me guessing and engaged throughout the entire book.

I thought the idea of being able to see people dying before they did worked as a concept. It had that terrifying feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the idea of this book. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed the way they interacted with the crime element. Michael J. Malone writes a strong story and glad it was so well done.

"The Murmurs" by Michael J. Malone is a cursed-modern-thriller great for mystery fans who love the gothic! Taking place in modern Glasgow and the Scotland Highland's brother and sister, Annie and Lewis, work together to uncover secrets of their past to reveal the sinister truth of their hometown.

I like this book because it blended curses with mystery. There was a bit of a magical side to it but balanced well where it didn't leave the mystery genre. I loved the premonitions of Annie Jackson, referred to "the murmurs" in the story, it was such a fun power that lended itself well to the story. This book is a page-turner!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

The Murmurs by Michael J. Malone is a book I have had for a while and I had to go back to for a re-read due to it's sheer brilliance and because it is utterly terrifying yet still a highly compelling narrative. I am not sure I can even write a review that does it justice as it has blown me away. I rarely get unnerved by a storyline, I rarely read horror, but I am not ashamed to say that this book gave me chills to my bones

The premise seems simple; Annie Jackson begins to have premonitions of people unaliving and discovers it is a family legacy that continues down the maternal line. Ok, this sounds interesting, lets have a looksee! However, this is beyond a thriller, beyond a horror, this is brilliant writing of pure, uncensored fear. So subtle, yet utterly chilling, the writing is absolutely incredible

I am absolutely in awe of the skill displayed by Michael J Malone in his mastery of the narrative and I would really like to read more of his work based on this utterly brilliant novel, but in all honesty, I am terrified! The authenticity and placement in reality gives the narrative a level of plausibility that will flip your cynicism on its head about the existence of paranormal abilities and entities for the duration of the book. For me, this shows an incredible author to ilicit this level of response in me and as such, straight on to my thriller/ horror authors list

Thank you to Netgalley, Independent Publishers Group | Orenda Books and the author Michael J. Malone for this outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Annie Jackson’s first day of work at a care home comes with a shocking surprise. Upon meeting one of the residents she has a premonition. She knows that he is going to die and how it will happen. This vision catches her off guard and leaves her shocked and shaken. It also serves as the driving force in her search for answers about her past, her family history, and a curse that has plagued her family for generations.

Annie was an interesting character and we get to learn a lot about her as she experiences the horror of the visions and the murmurs of the dead and dying that she’s tormented by. Malone does an excellent job in allowing us to experience Annie’s fear and confusion right alongside her. His writing also brings to life the concern and support she receives from her brother, Lewis. The relationship between the siblings is one of the highlights of the book. I enjoyed seeing their interactions and look forward to seeing more of their relationship in future books.

The story is told in multiple timelines and from multiple POVs. My feelings on this were mixed. While the multiple POVs in the current timeline helped create a richer and more nuanced story, allowing us to better understand the character’s fears and motivations and helping to move the action in the book forward, I sometimes found myself pulled out of the story when switching between the timelines. We do learn a lot about the history of the family and the curse through the other timelines, but I found that the switches sometimes cut into the action and momentum of the current storyline.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. As the first book in a new series it set a strong foundation for future books. Malone spent a lot of time getting us to care about his characters and introducing us to the curse and its history. I’m looking forward to following Annie’s journey and seeing where the visions take her.

Thanks NetGally and Independent Publishers Group/Orenda Books for this copy.

I loved my first experience with Michael J. Malone's writing back in 2020, and I'm still not sure why it has taken me this long to pick up more of his work. I admit I have more than one backlist title waiting to be read, but I couldn't resist the lure of his newest story The Murmurs. I was drawn to the premise of this gothic thriller with its supernatural horror vibe in the form of the family curse and the premonitions, and I've been looking forward to dive in. There is no doubt that The Murmurs turned out to be an atmospheric and multi-layered thriller that focuses on so much more than just the curse... A bit slow to start, but once the ball starts rolling there is no stopping it.

Somehow it's hard to put The Murmurs into just one neat little genre box. It is definitely a gothic thriller, but it also has a paranormal/supernatural horror vibe. Moira's memoir is more historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural, while there is also plenty of family drama to be found in most of the plot. Add plenty of secrets to be unraveled and almost a cult vibe in certain parts of the plot, and this story is very much multi-layered indeed. Somehow the different elements are well balanced though and together they form a cohesive and intriguing read.

I think part of the reason The Murmurs wasn't a 5 star read for me personally had nothing to do with the story itself and everything with one of my personal pet peeves. I'm never a fan of religion in my stories, and there is a lot of religion and religious bigotry to be found in The Murmurs. In fact, parts almost felt cult-like with how certain characters seem to be under the spell of the pastors... I can't deny the element was well incorporated, but it's simply a topic I never enjoy reading about (and especially when there's bigotry involved). There was also a tad too much family drama going on along the way, but again that is probably mainly a personal pet peeve.

I did adore the Scottish setting though, and both the descriptions and incorporation of Scottish words really made the setting come alive for me. True Scottish flavor indeed! The writing style in general is excellent, and I especially enjoyed how the curse and the murmurs were portrayed. I do have to say that the pace was a lot slower than expected, and it took me a while to properly warm up to the story. This might have had to do with the multiple POV structure and the way the story switches between past and present as well as different characters along the way... Although I can't deny that these POVs did add their little something to the plot. I was a bit sad that I was able to guess part of the truth behind some family secrets right though, but there were also other parts I never saw coming so I guess everything was balanced out in the end.

If you are looking for a creepy, ominous and atmospheric gothic thriller that mixes family drama and religion with a family curse and lot of secrets, this first book of a new series The Murmurs is a great option.

I love a witchy story and The Murmurs gave me that. The writing is sharp and easy to follow, evoking sadness and fear as the characters feel them. The story was interesting but became pretty predictable. I enjoyed reading this and will recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for this amazing opportunity to read rate and review this ARC which will be available 4/9/24!

This was a trip and a half. It is deeply gothic and set shivers up my spine whilst reading it. Annie sees the dead. She has premonitions. And these premonitions have dug up a very deep secret with deadly consequences. This truly was an atmospheric treat for my eyes.

This is a gothic thriller that is has a creepiness factor as well as the supernatural. Not one of the top books I've read this year, but it's always good to explore different genres. Good for supernatural fans!
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for access to this e-ARC.

EXCELLENT spooky thriller from Michael J Malone.

Annie Jackson is ready to start her new job at an elder care facility. She arrives and quickly meets two residents. The moment she meets Steve, she sees his face as a skeleton and can see that he will die soon and how it will happen. Along with this, Annie has been having terrible, horrifying dreams. Is everything okay with Annie, or is there something darker at play?

This is a story about the women of one family and the curse that continues to this day. I'm pleased to see that this is just the first of a series because I grew to love Annie and will be excited to read more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Murmurs is a captivating book that blends mystery and supernatural elements in a unique way. The story revolves around intriguing characters and a plot filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

The book delves into complex themes, adding depth to the overall narrative. It's a thought-provoking read that explores the human psyche and the power of perception.

However, I have to mention that the pacing a bit slow at times. Some parts felt like they dragged on and was a little boring in some places. The timeline jumping was confusing and I just couldn’t get into it for a very long time, it sort of picked up near the middle but it was still slow.

Overall, The Murmurs is a good book that offers a unique blend of mystery and supernatural elements. While it may not be a perfect read, it's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of atmospheric storytelling and intriguing characters.

I loved the witchy premise of this and the "murmur" idea sounded incredible. I enjoyed the premise at first but the Alternating timelines weren't distinctive enough for me and it got a bit confusing at times. I also found that this felt like it was for a younger audience despite the mature themes, reading more as a Nancy Drew sort of show-and-tell, and I didn't feel a lot of tension.

Thank you for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel.

Personally, I felt like the story had a lot of potential. I was very confused by the jumping timelines and could have used a bit of clarification. The pace was also quite slow. I did think that there were moments that stood out to be as far as uniqueness and things I did not originally expect. I do enjoy a gothic or dark themed novel, so this was entertaining.

Thank you for choosing me to be an arc reader!
I really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns. I sometimes found my self about confused with the time jumping. It left me feeling like I needed more though.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. It was super unique and I felt like most of the book was pretty fast-paced (until I got about 70% of the way through). I was initially ready to give this book 5 stars, but it wasn't quite wrapped up like a pretty bow at the end how I had hoped it would be. I found myself wanting more details about the curse along with how and why it is existed. Overall, I'd recommend the book, just know that you may end the book feeling like you're missing a little something. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orenda Books for an ARC of this novel.

This is a thrilling book that mixes mystery, spooky elements, and family secrets. It's about Annie Jackson, who gets scary visions and hears voices that predict death. The story moves back and forth between Annie's past and present, making it really engaging from the first page to the last. The setting is in the Scottish Highlands which adds to the book's creepy vibe. Annie, with her brother Lewis, tries to find out more about their family's curse. I found Annie's struggle with her fears and the family curse very touching. This book is great for those who like a bit of a darker story with witches and secrets. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group Orenda Books for an advanced copy of The Murmurs.

The Murmurs is a supernatural, gothic mystery surrounding a few generations of women who hear what they refer to as "murmurs," or voices that tell them when someone is going to die. Additionally they see the person's death in the way of visions, and when they look at the people who are marked for death, they see flashes of their skull and bones. To them it's a curse following the women of their family, gradually driving them insane.

The story is written in quick, short chapters following Annie and her brother, Lewis, who are orphans. Annie starts hearing the Murmurs, so she and Lewis start investigating into their family history to figure out who they are and why this is happening to Annie. While investigating their past, Annie is sucked into this murder mystery of a girl she knew/saw the death of years previously. It was an interesting blend of past and present.

For me, I liked the plot but with the dual timelines and so many similarities between the two, in addition of so many characters, it was a bit difficult for me to keep track of who was who and which timeline we were in. This also made it a bit difficult tracking connections between all of the characters over the years. This book wasn't very long, but with so much packed into it I feel like I would have preferred it to be broken up into two books. The pace was also a bit slow for my liking, with long descriptive pages and once we got to the twists and climax of the story, it just felt a little rushed. I liked the story and was still invested enough to keep reading since I enjoyed the uniqueness of the plot, but with the long descriptions and too many characters that I felt could have benefited from more development, this was just an average read for me.