The Whisper Man Written by Alex North Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-1-250-31800-8 My ghoulies and ghosties, we're getting through these reviews so quickly! There's only one more to go. And for this book review, we're back with another novel by Alex North. Last year we read "The Shadows" and it was VERY good. Similarly, The Whisper Man is also a thriller mystery novel set in a small town where a terrible crime occurred many years before. Interestingly enough, the same detective Amanda Beck is in both books but you don't need to read them both to enjoy their individual stories. So, let's get into it! The Whisper Man had SUCH a great premise! 20 years in the past a serial killer was abducting young boys, but not before whispering to them outside their bedrooms at night. After his fifth victim, the serial killer was caught and sent away. Now, in the present day, a little boy has gone missing with striking similarities to the original case, sparking rumors that a copycat has started killing. OR that the original killer had an accomplice they never caught. That sounds like a hell of a mystery and one I was very excited to read. But I'm gonna say it right now- the ending is entirely predictable and I struggled to enjoy this novel. If a book is 300+ pages it shouldn't take 100 to be bearable and 200 to really catch your attention. I have no doubt that Alex North is an excellent writer. I just can't say this story is one I would rave about to my friends and it definitely isn't scary (as I've seen countless reviews state)! Now, the story revolves around a recently widowed father and his son Jake. They move to a new town to start over. Once in their house though, they begin to have weird events occur surrounding their property. Someone trying to break into their garage and house, noises at night they can't explain, Jake talking to people who aren't there, etc. A lot of the story focuses on the theme of fathers and their sons. That is evident throughout the entire story. And while I myself understand all too well, what it's like to not have positive thoughts about yourself... I found the father, Tom, extremely annoying. So much of the start of the book is just him pity partying and talking down on himself and his inability to parent his kid whom he deems as "not normal". It just added to the story dragging on and on. However, I want to give North some credit because while it was hard to get into and I DID predict the bad guy in the end, he did manage to get some plot twists past me. He wrapped the story up nicely and fleshed things out in a way that made perfect sense. He also managed to bring a beautiful theme into it of loving someone even when you're not getting along. Something as a parent myself, I hope my 4-year-old knows. Even when mommy and daddy are mad, we love you dearly and deeply! If you don't mind a slow start the rest of the story was worth it, albeit a bit sad and melancholy. The book has great reviews and it may just not have been my cup of tea. I truly encourage people to check it out for themselves! Read on my fellow bookworms. May we one day have Belle's library! And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below.
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