Review: The Whisper Man by Alex North

The Whisper Man by Alex North 

Published: August 20, 2019

Publisher: Celadon Books

Format: audiobook

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.

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.

My Thoughts

In theory, The Whisper Man had everything I wanted in a book, it was a thriller with hints of real scariness that I was so ready to get into. It’s the story of Tom wants a new start with his young son after the loss of his wife, until his son encounters “The Whisper Man” and Tom doesn’t know what to think. The Whisper Man was a man who years ago came to the window of young children to kidnap them and do harm. However many think the man who was convicted had an accomplice and now the police are out to find out what is really going on.

This story is told through different timelines and POVs, so much so I found myself confused at times. While I was so looking forward to reading this it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was imagining something more scary or haunting but it wasn’t so much that than a story of fathers and sons. and their relationships with one another. Don’t get me wrong there were some scary elements but nothing like I thought it would be. Although it wasn’t what I was expecting it was a good read, one with an interesting storyline and characters that will leave a lasting impression.

Review: A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

Published: June 25, 2019

Publisher: Celadon Books

Format: via audiobook

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Stella Sandell stands accused of the brutal murder of a man almost fifteen years her senior. She is an ordinary teenager from an upstanding local family. What reason could she have to know a shady businessman, let alone kill him?

Stella’s father, a pastor, and mother, a criminal defense attorney, find their moral compasses tested as they defend their daughter while struggling to understand why she is a suspect. Told in an unusual three-part structure, A Nearly Normal Family asks the questions: How well do you know your own children? How far would you go to protect them?

My Thoughts

In A Nearly Normal Family, Stella is accused of killing an older man. In alternating POVs and timelines, we see pieces of the puzzle and it keeps you thinking could Stella have killed this man, or was it someone else. The next question is if she did why did she? What could have happened to make her do this unspeakable crime? In the process, we met her father who is a pastor and her mother who is a lawyer. I like how we dive deeper into her family and we see how they all interact with one another. We start to see how these relationships play a part in things that have happened. They think they know their daughter but honestly how well do we really know each other? I liked the twist and turns of this book so much and the way things played out I never saw them coming. This is one book that is weird in a good way and with characters that are definitely interesting plus with a storyline that pays off in the very end.