Loved this book. Lots of twists and cleverly written as always from this author. I would highly recommend this book.

Quite formulaic it was barring a twist midway down the book.

4 mums with children around the same age were best friends, until Grace came back home from Australia. During an evening out, one of the mums, Anna, disappeared. Grace was heartbroken that her childhood friend was missing, and nobody seemed to bother. Someone was hiding something.

The story had half-developed characters, and some truths were well hidden. The author twisted the plotline well, but the writing was pretty repetitive. Both Grace and Anna went round and round in circles.

Due credit to the author got having tried to infiltrate the story with suspenseful crumbs. But ultimately, they had all been picked up in earlier books by other authors. So they too appeared jaded.

could have been better

Grace Goodwin and Anna Robinson have been friends since they were children. Best friends - almost sisters. They were inseparable u til the age of 17, when Grace’s family moved away from Clearwater to Australia, and although they asked Anna to go with them, she stayed in Clearwater. However, it’s now almost 20 years on and Grace has moved home, hoping to pick up where they left off and resume their friendship, but Anna is cold to Grace and seems to have moved on with new friends who don’t want to allow Grace to join their cosy clique. When Anna goes missing after a night out, it feels like Grace is the only one that’s worried about her, but will secrets from their past reveal why Anna has gone missing and just why their friendship has kept them bound together?

This is an interesting story, and I really enjoyed the structure of it. It’s good with flashbacks so the timeline jumps around a bit from before and after Anna’s disappearance, as well as back to the friendship of Grace and Anna when they were children and how that may have influenced them as they grew up. It was an enjoyable read with interesting characters but I think there may have been almost too many story threads, so it felt like everything almost wasn’t fully explored. If the side plots around the rest of Anna’s friends Nancy, Caitlin and Rachel had been left out, then I think it would have left more room for a really deep dive into Grace and Anna’s characters. The husbands all felt a bit thinly characterised as well, they almost didn’t need to be included in the book at all. A good read with an interesting premise, I would definitely read more by this author but would want more of a focus on the main story thread rather than fleshing out side characters that don’t really impact on the story much.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was given a copy of The Whispers by Heidi Parks in exchange for an honest review. When Grace moves back to the UK after living in Australia she meets Anna who she knew before she moved to Australia. When Anna disappears Grace is feels shes the only one concerned about Anna's disappearance. Lots of twists by Heidi as usual in her novels. A great read.

A familiar tale of two friends with a dark secret from the past.

Grace Goodwin returns to her coastal childhood home of Clearwater after living in Australia for 19 years and is immediately reconnected with her best friend Anna, but Anna has moved on and now has her own circle of friends, who do not take kindly to Graces arrival.

After a girl’s night out just before Christmas, Anna fails to return home to her husband and young son, leaving Grace to frantically track down her best friend.

This is a story of a toxic friendship, told from both Anna and Graces characters.

A book of two halves with some great misdirection.

Thank you to NetGalley for this book in return of an honest, unbiased review.

What a gripping thriller.

This was a very disturbing but good read.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and could not get enough of.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension -  impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

The Whispers by Heidi Perks is an intriguing read. It's one of those books featuring a narrator who may - or may not - be reliable. On one hand they appear entirely normal and only worried about a missing friend, but on the other their behaviour seems excessive. Bordering on obsessive and increasingly worrying.

But then it seems that others are keeping secrets so we're not entirely sure who to trust.

The Whispers is the third book I've read by Perks and I've enjoyed them all. They're all twisty and here Perks paces the unfolding of past secrets well so we're kept guessing for some time.

Even though Grace's behaviour is obviously increasingly odd and obsessive, we're in her mind so we know (or believe) she's not necessarily a bad or evil person. We do know however there's something wrong. But she's equally suspicious of Anna's other friends and there's also something a bit 'off' about their behaviour. Of course the question for readers is, How much of our perception of the others is tainted by Grace's?

Happily Perks doesn't take a well-worn path here when it comes to Anna's fate - or perhaps I just read too many books that involve dastardly things happening to unsuspecting women? Instead readers (and Grace and Anna) are forced to revisit the past; in which we learn more about the girls' friendship and about their relationships with their parents.

I also appreciated that - even though it's hinted at one point - Perks also doesn't go down another obvious and easy route. It's tempting to paint characters in black and white but she includes a lot of murky grey here.

Although childhood friendships and the ties that bind people together when their lives are intertwined in their formative years (such as the case with siblings) are front and centre, there's also some contemplation here about past decisions and mistakes, about families and relationships.

3.5 stars

The Whispers by Heidi Perks is the first book I have read from Heidi and I loved it. This book was very cleverly written with lots of twists and turns throughout I was hooked within the first few pages.
The two main characters Anna and Grace were best friends since they were very small until Grace's parents decided to relocate to Australia and sadly their friendship ends. Years went by and now thirty-something woman with families of their own Grace has moved back to Clearwater near Weymouth Dorset. She wants to continue their relationship they had when they were younger. Anna, has new friends and family now and isn't particularly keen on renewing their friendship and keeps Grace at arms length, However, Grace is so determined to get this old friendship back on tracks! but then Anna goes missing after a night out, Grace, will need to keep her wits about her to find her friend, before it's too late!

I highly recommend this book.......I loved it!

Big Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this thriller that slowly built to a twist I didn’t initially see coming. A fascinating exploration of the nature of female friendships through our lives and how our childhoods can shape our personality and ultimately our life.

Growing up Anna & Grace were best friends. Anna spent most of her time at Grace's house & was treated as one of the family. When Grace's family moved to Australia they lost touch. The years passed & Grace returns to Clearwater with her daughter. However, things have changed. Anna has a close group of friends & Grace feels left out. When Anna doesn't return home after a night out Grace is determined to find out what has happened.

I find it hard to review this book without giving the plot away. However, I'll just say that I loved the way the perspectives changed. I couldn't put it down till I knew all the answers. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Anna is missing and the only person that seems to be looking for her is her best friend Grace. Her husband and friends don’t seem to be too concerned and don’t want to call the police. So what’s happened to Anna? Things are not all they seem in this great read about two women’s friendship.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next release by Heidi Perks.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for letting me review this book.

Having enjoyed Heidi Perks' previous thrillers, I was excited to get stuck into 'The Whispers'. Once again, we have Perks' skilfully woven plot and tense mystery, this time surrounding childhood friends Grace and Anna. Grace has recently returned to their small town, and is keen to start up their close friendship where they left off over twenty years ago. However, when Anna disappears we are forced to wonder the true nature of the people in this close-knit community - sometimes the threat comes from where you least expect it.

The premise of this book was really interesting. I liked the idea of the community and the impact of the 'whispers' and rumours at the school gate. The interjections in the plot of the gossip happening around the central friendship group are a nice perspective on the drama unfolding and felt very 'Big Little Lies' esque. However, the issue with the story is that it sounds really exciting but the explanation for the events is kind of dull... Even the dramatic childhood backstory could not rescue Anna and Grace's story from something which ultimately felt drawn out and uninteresting.

Overall, this was a fine story but could not be defined as 'thrilling'. It is such a shame as I loved Perks' previous novels. I hope her next one sees her back on form. 3 stars ***

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the first page. This is a slow burning tale of female relationships and how those we made in childhood change and develop in time. I enjoyed reading it and was satisfied with the ending

The Whispers is a slow burning thriller that creeps up on you. It's intriguing and keeps you guessing but isn't in your face.

It's subtly scary, dangerous in its quiet eeriness and it will draw you in. I've found that with all of Heidi's books so far. They aren't in your face, obvious thrillers. They make you wait and it's delicious!

This is a tale of female relationships. Those created during childhood and those newer friendships. I was engaged from the onset and was kept interested all the way through. My impressions of the relationships Anna had with her old friend, Grace and her new friends, Nancy, Rachel and Caitlin changed during the book; Sometimes I was supportive to one and then I changed my mind and I think this is what kept my interest. It took me back to my school friendships and although not as intense, it did evoke some memories of how important those relationships were (and actually still are).

Another writer whose books I need to read.

What a brilliant book! I was hooked from the first page and read this book in less than a week.

It is set in a small village near Weymouth where there is a close-knit community. One of the main characters, Annie, has lived here all her life, is happily married with an 8-year-old son, and has become firm friends with 3 other mothers whom she has met at the school gates.

Suddenly her life is pulled apart when her childhood friend, Grace, returns from Australia having emigrated there at the age of 17. Grace and Annie have been friends since meeting at infant school. Annie has always lived with her father as her mother had left the family home. Although her dad had always done his best, Grace’s mother had taken Annie under her wing, had Annie stay and even took her on holidays. The two girls were distraught when Grace left.

Grace is also married with a daughter but her husband is working in Singapore, they rarely see each other and their marriage is slowly falling apart. However, Grace expects to resume the friendship with Annie that she had and becomes increasingly resentful that Annie has found new friends.

We hear the story from both Annie and Grace’s point of view and I found myself sympathising with first Grace and then Annie. It is only when the whole story of the past is revealed that we learn the truth not only about their relationship but also about the event that had happened many years ago involving both Annie and Grace.

This book was so well written with brilliant descriptions of the various women who form cliques at the school gates which will resonate with anyone who has spent many hours waiting for their offspring. I enjoyed the whole book and was pleased by the ending which can often be a disappointment but not in this case.

As stated in my introduction I now have to find time to read some more of Ms Perks’ books!

Dexter

Elite Book Group received a copy of the book to review

The Whispers is quite a slow read, though not boring in my opinion. The prose makes it flow nicely and there's just enough developing detail revealed in each chapter to entice the reader to continue. Even though I felt it could have been quicker paced and had more substance to the plot, I still enjoyed reading it and was satisfied with the ending.

Review also posted to Amazon.co.uk

I love HP's books, and I hate to say it, it wasn't my favourite book, was a good story but at times I feel like to book dragged on a little bit, I understand description, but I feel like parts were too long.

One word.. unputdownable!

Another absolute corker from Heidi Perks that had me guessing until the very end.

This is a story that leaves you second guessing everyone, who can you trust, who's lying and who is actuallysoeaking some truth?

The main characters Anna and Grace were childhood best friends but then Grace moved away and reappears in their adult years, somehow expecting to gi back to where they left off.. but life isn't like that is it! Anna now has a close knit group of friends (yummy mummies) that Grace is pretty much an outcast from.

What unfolds is a tale of broken friendships, hidden truths, mystery, lies, deception and broken trust.

I won't go into detail as it will definitely spoil the story but this is a must read for the summer!!!

Huge thanks to netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

A great and interesting read. Good mystery and suspense, everything you need for a good book. Would definitely recommend reading.