The Whisperings turned into a darker journey than I expected. I really enjoyed the scares! The character development was spot on, and I found myself becoming more and more invested in them and their outcomes. This book had it all: love, loss, courage and lots of dread and fear.

This was my very first time reading Joel A. Sutherland, and I have to thank my son for the recommendation because The Whisperings was such a thrilling surprise! Horror isn’t a genre I usually gravitate toward, but this book completely pulled me in. It felt less like reading and more like watching a movie unfold in real life. I would literally grab my popcorn, settle in with my Kobo, and get swept away by the suspense.

The writing is vivid, the pacing tight, and the atmosphere perfectly eerie. I could picture every scene clearly, and the tension kept me flipping pages. I also really enjoyed the characters as they felt real and grounded, which made the stakes feel even higher.

There were a few moments where the plot became a bit predictable, but overall, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the experience. As a first introduction to this author, The Whisperings definitely left an impression. I’ll be checking out more of Joel A. Sutherland’s work for sure!

Highly recommend if you’re new to horror or just looking for a chilling, immersive read.

After years of trying to run away from their past Joana, Peter and their dad find themselves back in their old home town and quickly moving into a basement suite that was advertised in the paper. When Joana finally begins to accept that this may be her permanent home an accident happens and she awakes in the hospital only to discover now she can see the dead. Once Joana returns home the horrible history of the house is on full display can she help the tortured family or will she let the darkness of the past consume her?

The descriptive eerie scenes had me tucking my knees and pulling up my blankets while the family dynamic parts of the story had me laughing, tearing up and rooting for them along the way . The side characters and other points were all well thought out, the whole new to town making enemies, awkward flirting, trying out for sports meshed well and didn't take away from the scary aspect.

Overall I'm glad I got to read something written by this author, words so creepy, yet so wonderful.

The Whisperings was an absolute phenomenal horror read. It's dark, it's graphic and gory and it's downright creepy. I loved that the ability to see and hear ghosts was called the Whisperings. I loved Jo as our main character and her badass nature of dealing with things. I loved that she got coined Pumpkin Spice as a nickname. There were so many creepy points in this book and so much horrific history that added to the story. This book was downright unsettling and I think horror lovers are going to love this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Tundra Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Joel A. Sutherland’s “The Whisperings” is a chilling, blood-soaked YA horror book that combines supernatural terror with real emotional depth. Centered around Joana Guest, a teen girl scarred by the trauma of witnessing her mother’s violent death, the story explores grief, family, and the haunting power of the past—both literal and figurative.

After years of moving from town to town, Joana, her younger brother Peter, and their secretive father land in Burlington, Vermont, hoping for a fresh start. But their new rental—an eerie old mansion—has other plans. When a near-death experience triggers Joana’s ability to see ghosts, she begins to unravel the secrets of the house and its horrifying past. The ghosts she encounters are not passive spirits—they are trapped in a nightmarish loop of their own gruesome deaths, reliving the violence that ended their lives in grotesque detail. The horror only escalates from there, with dismemberments, swarms of bugs, and scenes that get progressively more graphic and terrifying.

Sutherland doesn’t shy away from gore, and this book earns its place firmly in the upper range of YA horror—definitely not for the squeamish or younger readers. Yet beneath the fear and blood lies a thoughtful narrative about healing. The "Whisperings", which are phantom voices that have plagued Joana’s father for years, tie into the theme of inherited trauma and the lingering echoes of grief. Joana’s journey isn’t just about surviving ghosts, but about learning to face the pain she’s buried for so long.

Character-wise, the book offers a familiar high school dynamic, including the cliché mean girl trope. Thankfully, this character is given a bit more dimension as the story unfolds. A refreshing twist is Joana’s involvement with the rugby team—a detail that adds nuance to her character and helps avoid typical YA stereotypes. There’s a touch of romance with Willem, a classmate who adds warmth without stealing the spotlight from the main plot.

The pacing is strong, with mysteries revealed gradually, allowing you to piece together the puzzle alongside Joana. The relationship between Joana and Peter is especially touching, offering a grounded sibling bond amidst the supernatural chaos.

By the end, “The Whisperings” leaves you with the promise of more to come. With Joana now fully awakened to the spirit world, the door is wide open for sequels. And if they’re anything like this one—dark, emotional, and bone-chilling—they’ll be well worth the wait.

Overall, this is a gripping and gruesome ghost story that’s as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying. Horror-loving teens (and adults) looking for a scare that lingers long after the final page will find plenty to love—and fear—in “The Whisperings.”

Thank you to Tundra Books and NetGalley for an eARC!

The Whisperings focuses on Joana Guest, her brother, and her father as they settle into the latest city they've moved to. Living a life of constantly moving, Joana hopes this latest spot can be their forever home. However, there are things... off, about their new place - things that don't want to stay dead.

This was a refreshing YA horror - I really enjoyed the down-to-earth sensibility of the main character despite the unique ability she develops. The juxtaposition between a normal, everyday teenage life in a new town and the mystery of the haunting of their rented place provides a nice balance to keep me engaged.

The revealed truths of the several mysteries introduced within the story toward the end were handled nicely, and I felt like they were slowly shown in pieces to aid the reader in solving the mysteries themselves before all the pieces are revealed.

What I Enjoyed:
- a well-written point of view from a teenage girl
- spooky happenings with a slight twist towards the macabre
- all plot points resolved by the end of the story without feeling rushed

A delicious scary horror. It gets freakier and freakier the more you read. The sort of book where you notice when it hits nighttime and become too nervous to keep reading it. It’s chilling, a perfect read for horror lovers.

3.5

thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

this book was SCARY! it was so good, i couldn’t put it down. it kept getting freakier as it went on and even the ending was still chilling.

i loved the characters in this. their tragic pasts influenced how the “whisperings” dealt with them and it was really powerful.

if horror is your game, definitely check this one out