'As a child, his father had been a language he was unable to speak, but he was fluent now.' I adored this book. To me it was all about the exploration of father/son relationship in ways I haven't seen done before. It's an amazingly insightful book with layers of metaphor and surprise. It's a great story but I especially loved the stories behind the story.

Ever since Hayley Joel Osment muttered those spine-tingling words “I see dead people” to Bruce Willis back in 1999 any book or film featuring little children talking to “imaginary” friends gives me the heebie jeebies and THE WHISPER MAN is no exception.

There is so much to say about this book, but I don’t want to give anything away so all I can tell you is there is a sick psychopath out there abducting little boys in the present, a sick serial killer serving life in prison for abducting and killing little boys 20 years, an emotional damaged DI who’s determined to catch the killer and then there is little Jake and his dad Tom Kennedy.

Oh my word; Tom Kennedy is the most wonderful character – a grieving widow who’s wife died suddenly and unexpectedly and now finds himself trying to raise his sweet, overly sensitive 6 year old son Jake by himself and is struggling. My heart broke into a thousand pieces every time Tom told us his story and his feelings. His honesty and raw emotions were so real that it was sometimes difficult to remember this is a work of fiction.

Then there is little Jake – grieving over the loss of his beloved mummy, frightened and confused by things happening around him but such a sensitive sweetheart I wanted to give him a cuddle and tell him everything was going to be ok.

THE WHISPER MAN is so chilling, creepy and unsettling that I had to stop reading several times to catch my breath and remind myself it’s only a story. This is a superb book and I highly recommend it – but remember to make sure your doors and windows are closed.

I love a good a twisting crime novel and when I saw The Whisper Man on NetGalley I snapped it up straight away. I’d just finished Laila Slimani’s beautifully crafted Adele and I wanted to read a fast paced thriller, so I started this.


The Whisper Man is a little slow to start with. There are lots of characters and backstory to inform the reader about and the writing initially feels slow and laboured. I was critical at first, but as the story escalates I was gradually absorbed.

Each chapter switches between different characters and is gloriously frustrating because the truth is there but somehow not within reach. It’s is a gradually decreasing spiral; pulling characters and story closer until everything becomes devastatingly clear. Every single time I thought I was going to put the book down and get up and do real life things I couldn’t, and another hour was gone.

There is a lot to love in The Whisper Man. Initially my favourite inclusion is little Jake, a seven year old boy who is outcasted by his peers and relies on the company of imaginary friends. While normal for children his age to have them, Jake’s seem to give him information that he shouldn’t have access to. I really liked the inclusion of the story from Jake’s point of view and I thought North did a great job and sounding out a little boy’s voice.

You’re never quite sure whether the events happening are paranormal and even though logic tells you there isn’t, and you’ll talk yourself out of it a lot, there will always be that kernel of doubt. But when the Whisper Man starts to pray on Jake it’s so unsettling you really hope it isn’t real. Although most parts feel like a domestic drama, there are also small moments that are genuinely unsettling. I won’t give anything away but I tried to think what I would do if the events in that house happened to me, and I would probably just scream.

The Whisper Man is perfect for crime fans who are looking for something a bit more than a straight-forward procedural and there’s lots to love. If you like conversations with serial killers, weird crime trophy hunters, discovery of remains, abduction or general horrifying twists then this book if for you.

A great debut novel with a fast paced story that had lots of twists and turns. It was quite creepy in places and there was never any certainty in my mind as to how the story would work out. I like novels that aren't predictable.

"If you leave a door half open soon you'll hear the whispers spoken........" ________ Alex North

An absolute stonking read that holds you in its jaws from start to finish. Utterly chilling, disturbing and downright creepy. I really cannot recommend this psychological thriller/horror high enough.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

A tense and well written novel.

The moment I read the blurb I knew this was something that I really wanted to read. The story itself is well executed and the characters are interesting and full of life.
I would recommend this for sure!

An absolutely brilliant book, creepy as hell, no pointless gore for gore sake, thoroughly recommend this to anyone, this will keep you up till the end.

Loved this. Truly creepy premise and the whispers, the little girl, the boy in the floor, the letter box scene all gave actually shivers. But they're not just cheap thrills; it all adds up to satisfying, well-told story with real emotional depth. Highly recommend.

‘The whisper man’ is a brilliantly creepy thriller that I couldn’t put down. Following the death of his wife Tom Kennedy and his young son move to a small town to make a fresh start. Twenty years ago five boys were murdered in the area and although the murderer, nicknamed the Whisper man, is in prison the body of one of the boys has never been found. Detective Pete Willis has made it his mission to find the body and visits the murderer over the years to try to persuade him to reveal its whereabouts. Tom and Jake begin to settle into their new home but then another young boy disappears and Jake starts to hears whispers. The characters were well-drawn and believable. The realisation that the detective is Tom’s estranged father adds an extra interest to this gripping novel of suspense.

Brilliant plot, excellent main characters that you invest in. I read this book in one sitting and I would highly recommend it.

SPOILERS SPOILERS
3.5 stars

I breezed through this on one long train journey,and didn't notice the time passing.
It was creepy,not just for the kid and his seeing things,or the whisper man,or the serial killer who keeps boys bodies in his extension (I really wished I understood better the timeline on these boys being taken and killed), but also for the fact people will pay to be in the same room as a victims bones... that one was probably more scary,as could possibly happen.
I very much liked the Pete character,more so when we got his back story.

Overall,it was a good page Turner,with a few twists that made me rethink what I thought was going on.

Definitely one I'm buying for others.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 enjoyable stars

This was an easy to read, keeps you guessing book. I liked the characters and how they inter weaved with each other and particularly liked the chapters told from Jake’s perspective.

I wasn’t sure where the book was going till right near the end which was great.

So why only the 4 stars? Hard to explain, it just it lacked that little something extra, that thing that totally grips you start to finish. I don’t know much about the author but based on this book I will definitely read another.

I can't help sometimes but be wary of a book that gets hyped up way head of release date. There's always the worry that you expect too much, and what is essentially a decent book can feel like it's under-delivered. Safe to say though that this was not the case here. Loved the hints of supernatural set against the backdrop of a crime-thriller. Some great characters that pop off the page, and genuinely was a page turner for me, so would absolutely recommend to any and all looking for their next read.

The Whisper Man is a fabulous crime thriller which scared me witless and has me in tears more than once. It's a fabulous read.

It focusses heavily on Fathers and their relationships with their sons and features a wonderful little lad called Jake, who with his Dad Tom has moved into a new house in a small town called Featherbank, ready for a fresh start, following the sudden death of Jake's Mum.

But it doesn't prove to be the tranquil place these guys have hoped for. The house looks and seems a little strange and Featherbank is a tight-knit community where years earlier a serial killer who targetted young children gained notoriety as The Whisper man. But he is still locked away paying for his heinous crimes, so when another little boy goes missing not long after Jake and Tom arrive, it obviously can't have anything to do with the earlier murders. Well that's what the investigating police, DI Pete Willis and DI Amanda Beck, assume.

Pete was heavily involved in the murder investigations 20 years earlier and has made it his lifes mission to try and uncover the resting place of one final victim whose body has never been found but this triumph has eluded him and shaped his personality. And when 6 year old local lad Neil disappears, he is adamant that with his colleague Amanda he will find this little boy alive.

As the investigation goes on, Jake begins to worry his Dad, he reports hearing whispers outside his bedroom and has gained an imaginary friend.

The story is deeply emotional and heartbreaking as the fates of murdered children and sick predators are revealed. But throughout it all runs the thread of love and hope that is the unbreakable bond between fathers and their sons, whatever their circumstances.

I galloped through this book which I received via Netgalley. I feel it may well be one of my favourite reads this year as I was so immersed in it and loved reading it. This book combines a haunting and eerie feel alongside the terrifying brutality described and the redemptive qualities of family ties. I was sucked deep into the storyline effortlessly and I can't help but recommend anyone who loves a dramatic thriller to read this and feel it would make a superb tv show.

Nothing quite like having a creepy childhood rhyme embedded in your head as you turn in for the night, is there?

“If you leave a door half-open, soon you'll hear the whispers spoken…”

Not ideal for a restful night’s sleep, that. Especially since "The Whisper Man’s" muted antics are the source of extreme nightmares for parent and child alike.

Why? Well, the unsettling concept of child abduction partners something inexplicable to haunt the pages of this book, lingering long enough to amplify the fear factor just that little bit more. Dive into this book and it’ll soon have you questioning whether "The Whisper Man" is a figment of an overactive imagination or a living, breathing creature without a soul.

A pacey read, and chillingly calculated too. A few scenes are written so convincingly my senses remained on high alert way longer than the chapter that caused it. Oh, that reminds me: you may want to pay careful attention to your letter boxes… that’s all I’m sayin’.

An absolute cracker of a book. Spine tingling menace, creepy goings on interspersed with truly terrifying moments, this story hooked me from the first page.

I loved it.

What a fantastic debut. A creepy psychological thriller , this book had me hooked from the start to the end . Great writing and a great storyline . I lol forward to reading more from this author . Easy 5 stars

I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an advance copy of The Whisper Man, a stand alone thriller set in the fictional English village of Featherbank.

After the death of his wife Rebecca Tom Kennedy moves with Jake, his six year old son, to Featherbank for a fresh start but Featherbank is not as safe and secure as Tom imagines. Recently a young boy has gone missing in similar circumstances to events of twenty years ago when Frank Carter, aka The Whisper Man, was imprisoned for kidnapping and killing five young boys. Why does Jake seem to know so much about it?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Whisper Man which is an engrossing read, full of twists and turns and a hint of the supernatural. Initially I found the novel a complicated read and not particularly engaging but it soon warmed up. The novel is told from multiple points of view, mostly in the third person but with Tom’s narrative in the first person. He is mostly annoying as he dwells almost constantly on his insecurity as a parent and his perceived inability to communicate effectively with Jake. It gets old very quickly although the reasons for it become more apparent as the novel progresses. With so many angles to cover the multiple voices are a bit of a necessity to set up main part of the novel and while this approach rarely holds my full attention or gets me engaged I’m really glad I stuck with it because the novel is a cracker, full of intriguing questions, clever twists and neat ironies. It is also, as it continues, a tense and exciting read. Much of this comes from the writer’s ability to make the reader believe things, only to confound these beliefs later in the novel.

I can’t say that I really took to Tom Kennedy who seems self absorbed and rather whingy but, never having been in his position, it may be that I’m being over critical and it is actually a good description of a devastated man. His son Jake is a much more interesting character. In many ways he is much older than his years but he is deeply introverted so that may be normal given his personality. I don’t know but he’s definitely unusual. I loved the explanation of his knowledge which is one of the cleverest I have ever read.

The Whisper Man is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This moved me a lot more than I would have guessed
I found my self tearfull twoeards the end and touched by the characters
I also had a sense that this book behind the thriller angle is ultimately a book about loss and grief and how we cope when these events happen in our lives
This was a good novel it did for some reason take me ages to get into it though and not so much a who done it as that sorts passsed me by weirdly ,I was more engaged with the son and his emotional plight .
Thanks netgalley and publishers for advanced copy

Certainly an interesting read, although I was disappointed that most of the novel wasn't as creepy as the opening chapters. Some nice characterisation - Jake in particular is painted with a great deal of sensitivity - and I enjoyed the contrasting father-son relationships. A few too many coincidences for my liking, but a page-turner all the same. I couldn't help thinking that this would make a great episode of Luther!