How can you possibly improve a Laura Purcell novel…….you give it a theatre setting. I know I say it after every one of her novels, but this one is my favourite. After the first few chapters, it was with a sense of foreboding that I read on. It was as unsettling and dark as I’ve come to expect from Purcells books. And by the tragic end, I was a grown women believing in the superstitions of the theatre, the evil of a Greek Muse and a cursed watch!

Blurb;
At The Mercury Theatre in London's West End, rumours are circulating of a curse. 

It is said that the lead actress Lilith has made a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology, to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage. Suspicious of Lilith, the jealous wife of the theatre owner sends dresser Jenny to spy on her, and desperate for the money to help her family, Jenny agrees.

Laura Purcell has created three great female characters, Ms Jenny Wilcox, Mrs Dyer and of course Lilith Erikson. Jenny is a well grounded, dependable narrator and it was a pure study in writing to watch how the author passed back and forth the baton of kindness and cruelty between Mrs Dyer and Lilith, and gosh, there were some cruel moments

As I found with so many of Laura Purcells stories, the location becomes a fully formed character of itself, and The Mercury Theatre held its own. Great atmospheric prose brought it to life with all its costumes, props and characters, Mrs Nettle, Horace the stage manager and of course Eurydice the poodle feeling like pieces of the set.

For me Purcell is the queen of Victorian gothic storytelling and this one in particular with all its wonderful references to the great tragedies will be hard to beat for my favourite book in 2023.

The Whispering Muse is set in the gothic Mercury Theatre in London's West End and revolves around Mrs Dyer, the wife of the owner of the theatre, the leading actress, Lilith Erikson and Jenny Wilcox, her dresser. Greek myths and superstition are at the heart of this book. The women are all well developed as the main players. There are gory scenes but they add to the horror of the story. The writing is richly descriptive. A terrific, very highly recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ), Raven Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Bloomsbury for approving me for an ARC of this book. I first came across Laura Purcell when I listened to the audio, The Shape of Darkness, since then I have been collecting her books and couldn’t resist reading this one. I read this with my lovely friend Bex via Storygraph.

Set in Victorian England we are introduced to the world of theatre and all the superstitions it holds. After her elder brother abandons them our protagonist Jenny is struggling to provide for her younger siblings. She is desperate and wants to create a better life for them all so when Mrs Dyer makes her a generous offer, Jenny finds it hard to say no.

Once inside the theatre, Jenny discovers that this is going to be more than just a simple job of dressing and reporting activities to Mrs Dyer. Whilst Lilith is not the kindest of people Jenny soon finds herself ‘bewitched’ by her and wonders if she has fallen in too deep. As more and more tragedy befalls the theatre Jenny begins to question who the enemy really is and is the curse of Melpomene true?

However, there’s still a show to put on and the different plays matched the behind-the-scenes action perfectly. Learning about the superstitions and seeing the fear in the other workers and performers only added to an already haunting read. Laura Purcell is the queen of gothic stories that chill you to the bone. With complex and morally corrupt characters, haunting settings and spine-tingling prose, this needs to be on your reading pile.

A brilliant read, completely engrossing, I loved it. Women are firmly at the centre of this story, how they deal with the situations in which they find themselves, how they come together or not in some cases. Dark and gothic it is an insight into the lives of those in the theatre world of Victorian London. What money can do for you in various situations and also your place in society. Jenny is poor and her brother has disappeared, taking with him any money the family did have. She must earn money to keep her brothers and sisters and becomes engaged as a dresser to the lead actress. However, the theatre owners wife has actually engaged her as a spy, she wants to know what is going on between the leading lady and her husband. The plot races along and you really feel as if you are in that theatre. Supernatural elements and quotes from the classics all blend into a fabulous read, highly recommend.

My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing U.K. Raven Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Whispering Muse’ by Laura Purcell.

Laura Purcell is a must read author for me and I have read her previous Gothic novels and all have impressed me. So I was very excited for her fifth historical Gothic thriller, especially as it was set in the rich world of the theatre during the late Victorian period.

Miss Jennifer (Jenny) Wilcox is summoned to a meeting with Mrs Dyer, the wife of the owner of The Mercury Theatre in London’s West End. Jenny is concerned as recently her brother, who had been employed at the theatre, had absconded with one of the theatre’s actresses leaving Jenny and their siblings in dire financial straits.

Mrs. Dyer offers Jenny employment at The Mercury as the dresser to their new leading lady, Lilith Erikson. In addition to her regular duties, the jealous Mrs Dyer offers Jenny extra money and benefits to spy on Lilith for her.

Soon Jenny becomes aware of strange happenings as well as Lilith’s erratic behaviour. In the already superstitious atmosphere of the theatre rumours are circulating of a curse associated with
Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology. Could Lilith have made a pact with the muse to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage? If so, what cost might there be?

This novel is structured in five acts; each associated with a tragic play: Macbeth, The Duchess of Malfi, Anthony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, and finally Faust, Part One.

Laura Purcell has established herself as the Queen of Gothic haunted objects from her wooden silent companions, corsets, a china dinner service, and silhouette portraiture. Here she draws on the rich traditions of theatre and an object (no spoilers) that appears to house a malevolent spirit. I adore the Muses of Greek mythology so this theme was even more appealing.

I found Jenny a very relatable lead with a powerful sense of loyalty to her family. I enjoyed how Purcell demonstrated her shifting relationship with the volatile Lilith as well as her sense of being trapped between the actress and the increasing demands of Mrs. Dyer, like navigating the strait between Scylla and Charybdis.

Overall, I loved ‘The Whispering Muse’ finding it a completely immersive experience. It is bound to please Laura Purcell’s many existing fans and attract new ones.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to net galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

When I had first finished this book, I felt like I didn't enjoy it - but then I just kept thinking about it. I couldn't get it out of my head. And I think that's the mark of a good book, one that keeps you thinking about it long after you've put it down. Purcell has this way of writing creeping stories that slowly envelope you, and this one was no different.
I loved the setting of Victorian theatre as a costume girly trained in theatre myself.

Laura Purcell is my "one author". You know, the author whose next book you await with bated breath, the one whose books you devour in a single setting. I've been a fan since her debut and have read all of her books since. Some of them have definitely been stronger than others, but each time I pick up a Purcell, I know that I will be transported back in time, to discover a new spellbinding location, filled with creaky floorboards and drizzly cobblestone roads. I know that I always learn something new. Whether it's about porcelain in Cornwall, silhouette artistry in Bath, or the art of sewing dresses and Bedlam in London. In this case, I am again transported back into Victorian London and right into a theatre. It was fascinating finding out about some of the inner workings of a busy theatre. While not terrifying and much less "scary" than the Silent Companions, for example, I enjoyed the Whispering Muse more than The Shape of Darkness. I found the protagonist, Jenny Wilcox, more engaging and the storyline was just more up my alley.

I do miss the more traditional haunting fear that I felt reading The Silent Companions, but this is very much the gothic and twisty read I was hoping for when I picked up the book. As always, I am floored by Purcell's writing and ability to showcase a time and place I've never been. Gorgeous read.

I love watching a good play at a theatre. Its in many ways a unique experience not just actor’s and writer’s words and performances mixing but a good audience can also bring a unique dynamic feeding both and the theatre itself magically transforms from a stage and set to a portal to a different world. It can make us laugh but it can also show our darker sides - violence, death and murder outside a theatre all crimes to run in the opposite direction from but inside they’re a portal for our entertainment and for the the older play’s graphic content well that is just culture innit? But the thing about portals is that they can let other things in and then who knows what will happen? In Laura Purcell’s entrancing gothic novel The Whispering Muse we have a tale of Victorian gothic set in the land of greasepaint where tragedies can happen off-stage as well as on.

Jenny is a young woman in Victoria London facing financial ruin as now the sole guardian of her very young brothers and sisters. Recently forced to leave her well paid role for a wealthy she faces exclusion from society. Fortunately Jenny’s family connections bring her to the attention of Mrs Dyer; whose husband owns The Mercury Theatre. Mrs Dyer fears an ambitious young actress named Lilith may be getting her husband’s attention and Mrs Dyer will pay Jenny a great deal to be Lilith’s new dresser and to spy on what exactly the nature of Lilith’s hold on her husband is. For a significant sum Jenny agrees and finds herself exposed to the strange and superstitious world of the stage. One where certain words cannot be uttered; where people fear bad luck and then Jenny gets to witness the horrible death of one of the country’s leading actors. The aftermath of which suddenly thrusts Lilith into the spotlight; especially when given the actor’s infamous watch but at the same time it starts to create a trail of ever more horrible events and deaths that Jenny finds herself witnessing and trying to stop escalating.

This is a hugely entertaining horror story firstly very much focused on giving the reader the sense of London stage behind the scenes in Victorian England. We get ambitious starlets; flamboyant actors and dressers and salt of the earth yet incredibly superstitious theatre hands mixing with the rich owners of the theatre who see life as a fun game. For Jenny its an initial culture shock - why can’t she say Macbeth when its the name of the play? But Jenny’s character is our way into this world as she learns the theatre’s secrets which she both loved and starts to fear at the same time as us. Its a neat way to help us try to imagine what this time would be like. Grounding the story though initially is the unusual balance of Jenny and Mrs Dyer. Mrs Dyer is initially a wealthy benefactor and wrong woman Jehby is happy to help; a cause of spying on Lilith that Jenny for very personal reasons initially sees Lilith as the enemy to bring down but as Jenny gets to know Lillith their relationship is ever changing - not quite friends and not quite enemies but they do get to understand each other which makes all their engagements fascinating to see how it ends. Alongside that is Lilith’s strange changes in personality and the very graphic changes to her body we start to witness all signalling something or someone malevolently attacking her. It helps that Purcell makes all their interactions flow with good barbs and insults that remind us we have two smart women trying to make a success of their lives despite the world they live in we may find our initial sympathies start to change as the story tells us more about the women in it. We get many reminders that this period was cruel on married and unmarried women in good measure and the non-supernatural elements of the tale are refreshingly very strong and compel us to see how events will finally turn out.

But of course there is indeed a supernatural element to enjoy and Purcell has crafted this tale carefully. It would be very easy to just let the theatre tropes fly turned up to 11 but instead Purcell creates a much better slowly building sense of terrible things all getting closer to the Theatre’s cast and crew. From an actor’s bloody and unexpected death on stage to a memorable and devastating conclusion we get regular escalations in horrible things happening that seem to centre around the dead actor’s watch now in Lilith’s hands - is this really the spirit of a Muse trapped into a watch? For the first half of the novel events could be easily just be down to coincidence but then in a memorable scene where things go horribly wrong the feeling of horror based on what we witness warns us that far more terrible things are coming. I also really appreciated that the horror is not just supernatural in origin but also down to human frailty and greed too and as this tale exposes both the reader my be hard pressed to say which is the biggest danger for Jenny and her new stage family. Cursed objects; scorned wives and the sexism of the society all make choices for Jenny and also we later find for Lilith quite a dangerous place to navigate.

I hugely enjoyed this tale. We are taken to this strange world that is already a mix of the real and the unreal at the best of times and now seems under a cloud of bad omens and portents that suggest more pain is to come - or from the reader’s perspective a lot of fun chills and shivers to experience! Purcell continues to be an author who knows how to weave characters, setting and a deliciously creepy atmosphere into a compelling and suitably dramatic tale well worth curling up on a dark night with.

I loved this theatrically themed novel.
I studied Henry Irving and Ellen Terry and their life both on the stage and off and the author has totally recreated a Victorian theatre with some brilliant characters.
Jennifer Wilcox is our main narrator who we first meet going to an appointment with a grand lady, Mrs Dyer after finding herself in poverty. The scene is set when Mrs Dyer wants to help Jenny overcome her brother Greg's thieving ways at Jennifer's previous employment as maid and also at the theatre - which Mrs Dyer co-owns with her husband,
The story begins when Macbeth is quoted. Not only my favourite Shakespeare play - but of course the 'Scottish Play' one with most curses amongst the theatre world. So the future looks ominous and soon blood (that is not make up) is being shed on the stage.
The combination of jealousy towards young actresses - Lilith Erikson - and the mysterious watch that passes through hands whose fate is soon determined by its very connection and you have the curse.
Jennifer's life trying to look after her remaining siblings after her mother dies and then her brother Greg runs off with their money make her both determined and street wise.
I liked her immersion into the theatre world and how we saw those working there. Great characters include male dresser Silas, Mrs Nettles commanding the costume department and Oscar who has been thrown over for love by Jennifer's brother and his adoration building for our star.
Wonderful descriptions of the costumes, the stage sets and the audiences. Going to the theatre was a little more raucous then - like the Globe groundlings!
Good use of lines from some memorable theatre greats from Macbeth through to Duchess of Malfi which might inspire some re reading of the classics!
A fantastic read that will have you clapping for Jennifer's final stage front bow to a happier future.

Another superb sinister offering from one of the modern queens of the gothic tale. As with her previous books, this is an exquisitely written novel with a bias towards the supernatural. With an evocative backdrop set within a London Theatre specialising in performing Tragedies, you picture vividly the sights, smells and atmosphere of the darkening and forbidding scenes that are played out both on the stage and off it. Excellent stuff.

The Whispering Muse is a creepily atmospheric tale that focuses in on the strange going on's of the Mercury theatre in London's West End and the complex characters that inhabit it's stage.

In particular, the story follows the lives of three leading ladies. The obsessivly ambitious Lilith, the Mercury's lead actress, rumoured to have made a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage. Mrs Dyer, the bitter wife of the theatre owner, who is jealous of her husband's latest female protégé and our narrator Jenny, who is thrown into the middle of all the book's madness, when employed by Mrs Dyer to dress and spy on Lilith. Between them, they manage to bring the Mercury to it's knees.

Theatrical superstition plays a huge role within the novel which creates an overwhelming sense of unease that follows the reader with every turn of a page. The secrets and deceit of it's cast bring a whole load of drama, adding to the suspense and keeping you on the edge of your seat... and boy are we rewarded with one hell of a final act!

Expertly crafted and as full of magic as a trip the theatre, The Whispering Muse is an utterly compelling read with more tragedy than one of Shakespeare's plays. I COULD'NT PUT IT DOWN - Laura Purcell gets a standing ovation from me! 👏🏻

The Whispering Muse takes place in Victorian London, where those in the theatre business are a superstitious lot. When lights begin to flicker, dark patches grow on the walls and there are strange sulphuric smells in dressing rooms, it begins to seem as though there might be a curse at play…especially when London’s leading man, a dedicated follower of Melpomene, the muse of tragedy, dies a gruesome death on stage playing Dr Faustus.

Our main character, Jenny Wilcox, faces a difficult future. After losing her place as a maid due to the actions of her brother, Greg, the future for her and your younger siblings who depend on her is looking bleak. However, when Greg’s old employer Mrs Dyer offers Jenny the chance to work at The Mercury Theatre as a dresser to the new leading lady in exchange for her spying for her - Jenny has to decide whether to make a Faustian pact of her own.

At The Mercury, not all is as it seems and drama and reality begin to bleed together. Enemies become friends, one-time allies betray each other,
and Jenny learns that muses can destroy as well as inspire…

My thoughts:

The Whispering Muse is full of all of my favourite things! It’s deliciously gothic and sinister, brilliantly written and follows women who try to forge their own paths, sometimes to their doom. I loved Lilith’s determination (and her dog, Eurydice!) and the various plays/references to some of my favourite playwrights: Marlowe, Shakespeare and Webster. This book was a dark, creepy, dream of a book and I couldn’t put it down.

This was a fun, gothic read set in a Victorian theatre. I loved all the atmosphere and references to classic tragedies during this novel and the scene setting was vivid and colourful.

There were truly horrifying moments in this book, that I must admit stretched the tradition of the Gothic genre for me, straying from the more subtle, ambiguous haunting style of atmosphere building. I also felt that some of the themes within the plot were quite serious and held maybe too much of a light touch, used merely as more shock elements to the overall spooky feeling.

I did not really warm to the characters - some of them are supposed to be vile - but even Jenny the protagonist felt a little one-dimensional and I couldn't really get on board with how she was used as a pawn throughout the novel.

Yet, as with all Purcell novels this had me compulsively turning the pages right until the end and I enjoyed the experience overall.

This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Theatre and spirits.
Laura Purcell 's book get better, including in this dark story, snatches of tongue in cheek humour which I really appreciated.
Poor Jenny, having to be a Mother to her sister and two brothers, the third brother Greg has run away with an actress taking their savings, stealing from Jenny's mistress and leaving the family in dire straits.
Fortunately Mrs Dyer the wife of a theatre owner gives her a job as a dresser to a rising star Lillian. Mrs Dyer seems a generous, kind person and helps Jenny in a number of ways, but she is expects something in return.
Lillians cruel, selfish ways are difficult to deal with and Jenny and Mrs Dyer work together to plan her downfall, until Mrs Dyers true character reveals itself.
This book is full of theatre references with I enjoyed also the words from various plays which fitted in well.
A real page Turner with lots of "oh no,'s from me. Delicious.
Thank you Laura and NetGalley.

My Five Word TL: DR Review : I loved everything about this.

It seems that Laura Purcell is not only the Gothic Queen but she also seems unable to do little wrong in terms of her creations. This is an author that I usually dance a little jig to whenever I discover that she has a new release pending and so far I’ve enjoyed them all – very much.

Set in the theatre this is a dark and atmospheric read. It revolves around five key plays that reflect the story as it progresses. It’s a tale involving plenty of drama, unholy deals that come at a price, jealousy, ambition and tragedy.

As the story begins we meet Jenny, she’s fallen on hard times following the betrayal of her own brother which has left Jenny and her siblings in dire straits. When Jenny is called to meet the wealthy wife of of the Mercury Theatre owner she is intrigued and a little amazed when she’s offered the job of dresser at the theatre – the very place where her brother betrayed not only her but the cast and crew of the theatre itself. It seems that the lady herself has suspicions about her husband and his leading actress and wishes Jenny to be her inside eyes – a spy no less – and Jenny is desperate enough to take the position. Of course, when she begins to find out she likes the actress in question, admire her a little even, it doesn’t help her to undertake her new role.

I loved this. The setting, the plot, the writing, the dark gothic feel, the characters, the strange blending in of theatre and supernatural elements with such a deft touch. Absolutely loved it and frankly I could read it again.

The theatre setting and Victorian period is perfect and seems to be Purcell’s domain. The theatres is brought to life beautifully, dilapidated and yet startling when the bright lights shine. This is a dangerous place and when things start to go wrong, it seems like bad luck has come calling

The leading lady, Lilith Erikson, is a beautiful and passionate woman, full of ambition and determined to grasp the nettle now. When she comes into possession of a strange watch, one believed to contain dark powers, her troubles begin. Her performances on stage are magnificent, she lives and breathes the characters, but off stage she loses her will. Jenny is a great character too and it’s a pleasure to read two such strong female leads. Jenny is basically good at heart and therefore conflicted with her newfound role as tittle tattle. She feels bad for spying on Lilith but needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle, she’s basically in between a rock and a hard place and must take any work she’s offered – and this is indeed a lucrative position.

The supernatural elements revolve around a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse from Greek mythology. These elements are subtly woven into the story in such a way that I think readers who don’t particularly love supernatural elements will still enjoy.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The writing is fantastic, it provides the perfect balance in all ways, the theatre comes to life and the characters leap off the page. In a nutshell, I can’t say enough good things about this book. Put simply I loved it and like a greedy child desperate for more I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 5 of 5 stars

There is nothing more magical AND terrifying than being backstage in a theatre - it makes the perfectly daunting setting for a grotesque, faustian tale. Not only does this book have an atmospheric backdrop, you get a decent dose of curses, relics, divas, scandal, a woman scorned, superstition, pacts, revenge, Victorian London, Greek mythology and of course tragedy. Now that’s a checklist! If you love a historical mystery, you are a fan of Laura Purcell or you simply love theatre and all it’s dramatics dahling, then you should probably grab yourself a copy of this book!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

When Jenny is tasked with dressing the leading actress, Lilith, in The Mercury Theatre, she almost can't believe her luck at finding such an exciting position. However she is also responsible for spying on Lilith and reporting back to Mrs Dyer, wife of the theatre's owner. It is not long before dreadful events start happening. There are even rumours of a curse brought about by a deal that Lilith has made with Greek muse of tragedy, Melpomene...

A brilliantly atmospheric book that will truly haunt you.

With hints of The Phantom of the Opera and Susan Hill, this is a fantastic example of Laura Purcell's knack for creating a captivating plot.

The story is filled with a sense of dread and is incredibly spine-chilling. The way that suspense is built as the book progresses really made me feel on edge.

I loved how the book was split into acts to echo a stage play, it perfectly complemented the theatre setting.

The relationship between the main characters is fascinating. The three women came alive on the page, their motivations and feelings both believable and relatable.

I have enjoyed all of Laura Purcell's books but this is my new favourite!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

‘Playhouses are not like other places. They are a portal, between our realm and countless others.’

Set in Victorian London, Jenny is summoned to the home of the owners of the Mercury. Expecting the worse, as her brother has just absconded from his job there & causing her to lose her own job as a lady’s maid, she is surprised when Mrs Dyer offers her a position to not only be dresser to the leading lady, Lilith, but to spy on her as well.
However, when Lilith becomes entranced by Melpomene, a tragic muse, sinister events begin to occur.
I loved the theatre setting, the characters (your loyalties changing with unfolding events) & the spooky going-ons. Laura Purcell is definitely the queen of gothic literature.
I was slightly disappointed by the ending but that’s possibly because previous novels by this author set the bar so high!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance e-copy. This is a book I’ll definitely be recommending!
The book also seems to have the title The Curse of the Muse (possibly a title for the

Wonderfully atmospheric The Whispering Muse is my book of the year so far.

Jenny is desperate to provide for her family having been left high & dry by her brother Greg. When Mrs Dyer, one of the owners of the Mercury theatre, approaches her with an offer of work, it feels too good to be true. Come to the theatre as a dresser for the leading lady, but keep an eye on her & what she's doing with the guv'nor, then report back.

What follows is a gothic delight. The theatre setting is perfect, the story unfolding through the different plays with the tensions within the theatre, both from the actors & the potential supernatural element, ramping up as the story progresses. I loved how my feelings for the characters changed, developing as time goes on, relationships develop & nothing is as it initially appears. Full blown goosebumps, a very dramatic, sudden ending that (after I got over the fact it snuck up on me) I loved, clean & clever.

Laura Purcell gave me A Picture of Dorian Gray vibes. Fantastic gothic creepiness, highly recommended.

I would give this a million stars if I could. I’m a huge Laura Purcell fan, but I think this may be her best book so far…

It’s a story of obsession on a few sides, desperation, jealousy, and the muse? A curse?

I loved every second of this book, the characters were rich and enthralled me, the story absolutely swept me away.

Just utterly, utterly beautiful. How does she does it every time?

My thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the advance copy. My views are my own.