I loved this new book from Laura Purcell, she always entertains so well. This is as creepy and unsettling as her previous historical gothic spooky books. Set in the world of theatre, where a young woman accepts a position as a dresser to a leading actress who falls under the spell of a cursed watch, it is gripping and exciting, even when in parts it gets rather hectic.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the sense of atmosphere, the claustrophobic world of the theatre was created very vividly. However, I found the ending rather disappointing and it seemed a bit rushed. It's a good read but not a brilliant one.

Loved the theatre setting and the gothic tone. There’s hints of Phantom of the Opera and general theatre superstition too – the Scottish Play! And I actually engaged with the characters which isn’t a given with Purcell’s books. But I just didn’t find the story as compulsive as, say, the Shape of Darkness. A good read but still leaving something to be desired for me personally.

Laura Purcell is an absolute master of Gothic storytelling. Her prior novel "The Silent Companions" is the only novel I have ever read that made me actually scream out loud in fright while reading it. So I was thrilled to be approved for the ARC of her latest through NetGalley.

In "The Whispering Muse", the protagonist Jenny is a likeable, down-on-her-luck young woman in a difficult position. Her brother has stolen from his theater owner employer and run off, leaving her to try to take care of their younger siblings. She is in dire straits when the wife of her brother's employer makes her an offer she can't refuse. She will be hired as the dresser for the theater's leading lady and in return for spying on her and reporting on her, she will receive generous wages, housing for herself and her siblings and the wife will pay for an operation one of them needs.

The novel is broken into 5 parts, or acts, each focusing on a different play. The leading lady, Lilith, is brilliant in each and has seemingly made a Faustian pact with a muse and never sets foot on stage with a perhaps-possessed silver watch.

The setting and atmosphere are vividly portrayed and drip with menace. This was chilling and creepy, although in addition to the psychological unease of this author's prior novels, there was more outright physical harm and gore.

A rare five stars from me!

This was a gothic, haunting and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down. It was gripping and engaging the whole way through with a level of suspense and unpredictability that added an extra layer to the storytelling. It was a chilling read that has stayed with me since I read it. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Whispering Muse is a good summer read - well, late autumn read I guess now. It's well paced, describes the theatre and the productions well, and is easy to read. The ending felt rushed (was the deadline looming or was the mortgage payment due!), and I'm sure it'll be forgettable in weeks, but it'll keep you hooked from the start to finish - I read it quickly, in just a couple of days, and that's not usual for me!

I love Laura Purcell’s work so was keen to read this and l wasn’t disappointed. Vivid setting and strong characters made it a fast-paced read. Lots of unexpected events but seeing the hold of the Muse unfold was exactly what the reader hoped for. There was a lot of drama packed into a short space; l have found Purcell’s previous work to be more psychological and this was a little more gory, but it’s a matter of personal preference.

Having read Purcell note at the end i know why this book is so different from her normal type of story. I'm glad she did this otherwise i would have been very disappointed in this read instead of understanding and appreciating it. Though this book will never be my top Purcell read i was engaged with the story and Purcell remains one of my top-ever authors.

This tale takes place in the world of the theatre where supernatural watches keep watch and our heroine is being used.

If the above description interests you give this book a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

By now we all know what to expect from a Laura Purcell novel, and The Whispering Muse certainly did not disappoint.

I loved the theatrical theme and all the references to famous tragedies (the plot is essentially a take on the Faust myth). Purcell has really embraced the use of dramatic techniques and imagery in her narrative - it's bolder and more bloody than any of her previous works, with some truly terrifying tableaux. There's more than one sinister force at play, and the power play between people is often just as menacing as any supernatural interference.

Chilling and compelling, The Whispering Muse is a specatuclar spooky page-turner.

Where do I start with this review? I absolutely LOVED this book. I really didn’t know what to expect when I picked it up but omg what a story! It had everything I want in a book, mystery, suspense and great characters. I could not put this down and smashed through it in just a couple of days. I am going to buy all the rest of Laura’s books immediately!

I really enjoyed this possession tale from Laura Purcell. The theatre setting was atmospheric and the tension building worked very well with quite an amount of gore. The main character had guts and although persuaded to overlook her better judgements you would want her on your side. The tale is of betrayal and obsession, with the problems of a theatre owning family being left to solve by a ladies maid, who has herself been treated badly by her brother . She makes her way as a dresser. Paid to spy on the principal actor she learns the danger held by the other owner. But can she save theatre and her family at the same time.

I really enjoy Laura Purcell's books. And I love the gothic styling in this book. Not my favourite of their books, but enjoyable non the less

This Laura Purcell's strongest writing yet in terms of atmosphere and character, but not quite as compulsive as her previous novels.

As a huge theatre lover - not to mention a fanatic for The Phantom of the Opera! - this really appealed to me. The layers of superstition, rumour and the blurred lines between supernatural and human agencies made this a wonderfully claustrophobic read. Whilst this isn't quite as unnerving as its predecessors when it comes to psychological horror, it can get quite grisly with blood and body horror - so definitely not for the faint of heart!

Whilst all the best gothic mysteries retain some shade of ambiguity, the sheer lack of closure and definitive clues at the abrupt ending made this a little unsatisfying. Ultimately, whilst I enjoyed myself when I did pick this up, I didn't feel much compulsion to get back to Jenny's world.

This book gets ALL THE STARS!

I honestly loved it. A gothic thriller Phantom of the Opera style story, I just couldn't put it down!

I am probably the worst person to objectively review this book as I love the author already but I read this through netgalley. I could have bought it though and probably still will! .
But if you love phantom of the opera style gothic horror stories, this book needs to go on your list. It’s set in a theatre as Jenny is employed to be some sort of dresser by theatre owner mrs dyer, for Lilith, an actress who mrs dyer has a bit of a grudge against. The plot has ghosts, gore and carriesk moments throughout!
Would thoroughly recommend!!!

Purcell continues her Gothic narratives, in the same vein as her previous ones. In all honesty, I'd love to see her tell the story 'straight' - and/or play around more with the melodrama element, given that this is what her characters in this one are doing, since they're all on stage. She's a talented writer - is it time she did something slightly new? But it's excellent of its kind.

When Jenny Wilcox is invited to meet Mrs Dyer, wife of the owner of the Mercury theatre she fears that it will have something to do with her older brother Greg who had previously worked at the theatre. To her relief, Mrs Dyer has something else in mind. She offers Jenny a job as dresser to Lilith Erikson, the new leading lady with a reputation for being difficult. In addition to a generous salary, Mrs Dyer also provides Jenny and her three younger siblings with a home of their own and agrees to pay for an operation that one of the children needs. In return however, Mrs Dyer expects regular reports on Lilith. What is she doing? Who is she meeting?
Lilith is a star, maybe even the greatest actress of her time. She embodies every character that she plays. But could her success have something to do her muse, the goddess Melpomene who seems to live within the watch that Lilith keeps with her and wears every time she goes on stage? Could it be that the watch is cursed? Has Lilith made a pact with the devil?
This book is deeply Gothic in nature, as Laura Purcell’s books are and just like it’s predecessors I was gripped from the first page to the last. When Purcell describes the theatre you can almost smell the greasepaint and the characters come alive on the page. Jenny is feisty and deeply loyal, Lilith is misunderstood and maybe even a little insecure while Mrs Dyer is a woman full of hatred and out for revenge. There are some grim scenes in the book that some might find difficult to read but they are all essential to the plot.
A triumph.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Purcell has been a favourite ever since I read the Silent Companions, so naturally I was incredibly excited for this one. Whilst not as supernaturally creepy as previous offerings, this was a fantastically written and utterly gripping gothic thriller, one that I could scarcely put down. Lilith is fantastically complex and I could have read a whole other book on her. This gets all the stars.

One of my favourite authors of historical gothic fiction - and this one does not disappoint. A very atmospheric story of obsession and madness with a touch of the supernatural as we have come to to expect with Laura Purcell. A great read, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advance review e copy.

Wonderfully gothic and set in a theatre in London

Greek Mythology

That scottish play

supersitition

someone being watched

Genius