The Whisper is a dark, mesmerising blend of crime drama, forbidden romance, and supernatural intrigue that plunges readers into a world of violence, secrets, and unrelenting tension. With its gripping premise and rich psychological depth, this paranormal thriller keeps you on edge until the final page.

The story centers on Jasper Newman, a man trapped in the cruel clutches of his drug-dealing boss. Jasper’s life is marked by fear and submission, but everything changes when he meets Jane Arlington, the boss’s enigmatic and alluring wife. Their forbidden attraction ignites a dangerous affair that serves as both an escape and a deadly gamble. Author deftly portrays the magnetic pull between Jasper and Jane, capturing their desperation, vulnerability, and fleeting moments of solace in a bleak, oppressive world.

As the plot unfolds, the stakes rise, and Jasper discovers an extraordinary ability: the power to see the manifestations of his—and others’—emotions as shadowy, whispering creatures. This surreal element adds a fascinating layer to the story, turning Jasper’s inner turmoil into a vivid, haunting experience. These manifestations are more than eerie visuals; they become metaphors for fear, guilt, and despair, providing Jasper with a unique lens through which to confront his past and navigate his precarious present.

The novel excels in its portrayal of atmosphere, immersing readers in a gritty underworld where danger lurks around every corner. The scenes are steeped in tension, from the suffocating confines of Jasper’s job to the high-stakes moments of his clandestine meetings with Jane. The writing is sharp and evocative, vividly painting the characters’ struggles and the harsh realities of their world.

The Whisper also delves into themes of control, survival, and redemption. Jasper’s journey is as much about escaping external threats as it is about confronting his inner demons. The paranormal twist serves as both a plot device and a profound exploration of human emotions, adding depth to an already intense narrative.

This book is perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers like The Sixth Sense and morally complex dramas such as Breaking Bad. Its combination of raw emotion, shocking twists, and supernatural elements makes it a standout in the genre. The Whisper is a gripping, unflinching tale of love, danger, and the whispers that haunt us all.

This is a gripping and challenging read that will captivate fans of family dynamics, psychological suspense, and the complex interplay between nature and nurture, making it a perfect fit for readers who enjoy twisty, addictive, and emotionally charged stories.

Crime drama and supernatural elements meet great dialogue in The Whisper.

Jasper Newman works for the drug dealer boss, Owen Arlington. A man some call "the devil". When Jasper gets asked to deliver a birthday present to Owen's wife, Jane, he would have never guessed how much his life will change, for the better and worse.

I loved the dialogue in this book, every conversation was keeping me glued to the page. The characters, despite not being "good" people, were likable. Jasper and Jane felt like real people.

The pacing was fast, and while this is not the kind of crime book that involves a lot of shooting or car chases, I was almost always fully engaged. The only part I didn't enjoy was book 3 (the story is seperated in 4 parts/"books"). I think the slight setting shift, and new characters were not as interesting as the earlier parts of the story. Thankfully this changes again in book 4.
I could have also done without the supernatural elements. I don't want to tell too much about it, but it thought they felt unnecessary, although the story would have definitely went into a different direction without them.

This book did not feel like a debut to me, and I recommend it. It's got crime, tragedy, and romance. I'll keep an eye on the next work of Warren Greer. Thank you for writing this book, and giving me a good time.

In The Whisper, tragically orphaned and adrift, young Jasper Newman gets involved in the drug empire of Owen "the devil" Arlington, a ruthless despot of a drug lord who reigns over his city atop his glamorous Art Deco skyscraper. The peons who work for Arlington know he's totally unhinged, but Jasper decides it'd be a great idea to start an affair with the drug lord's wife, and we follow the consequences that ensue thereafter.

The Good
Initiated with good pacing as a thriller (for the 1st half of book)
• I started out thoroughly enjoying this book as we followed Jasper try to untangle his drug deal mess and how the conflict built up with the affair involved. Greer did a good job of making you feel engaged with the next job in the "mundane" world of drug dealing. However, I think the story ultimately suffered after the halfway mark, where we get more into the paranormal/magical part of the story.
• I was definitely surprised when certain death(s) happened, though, and was eager to read on to find out more (omg! who did this? why? why is X still alive though?)
Realistic Character Personalities and Motivations
• Greer wrote realistic characters, from the loyal, yet jaded mentor figure of Glen, to the tragic neglected millionaire housewife, to the addicted drug addicts, etc. 1st half of the book was MVP of the story, where most of the world building occurs.

Drawbacks
Uninteresting Magical Ability
• I ultimately think that if Greer had decided to cut out the paranormal aspects of the story, where Jasper eventually gains the power to harness people's inner demons (negative emotions) and use them against them, and instead just focused on actual political intrigue within the drug world alone without any magical aspects, this would've been a better story--and that's coming from me, someone who has fantasy as taking the largest pie slice in book genres that I read.
• To me, the power itself didn't seem to be that interesting; perhaps it was either because of the explanation of it or how it was used, but in any case, I didn't think it was that compelling of a magical ability, and it really dominated the second half of the story
• It felt like Greer actually spent too much time in the Jasper-figures-out-his-power phase and too little time with explaining the origins of it, so it simultaneously feels like we're languishing in training phase while also feeling like it came out of nowhere.

Story Structure: Time Jumps => Disjointedness
• I wasn't a fan of the story structure being broken up into years (1972, 1973, 1976, and 1977)--at least particularly the coma as a time skip trope. It really just diffused all the built-up tension that happened in the previous year, only for the characters to wake up fumbling around and confused.

• And then in terms of overall plot, the drug world advanced in time-skip-like ways, which was unsatisfying, b/c it never felt like there was a real goal to that interesting realm, and we're left with the sense of just the nebulous goal of "escape" for Jasper.

Sluggish 2nd Half Pacing
• Pacing suffered the 2nd half, specifically in the asylum section
• We got the really long training montage
• Also coupled with the fact that the character is isolated for the most part in the story. No side-kick or anything to talk to. So that just means we're stuck with a lot of in the character's head moments or large stretches of zero dialog, which really felt like a trudge.

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a mystery thriller with a supernatural touch and I really enjoyed it. There are twists and surprises aplenty and I like the way the author shows the reader that everybody has good and bad in them. For a debut novel, it's impressive.

3.5 stars rounded up for a debut.

Interesting read, a combo of suspenseful thriller with the paranormal. Its starts off as a thriller, then paranormal and then we get the combo for the finale!
Once our protagonist gets into an accident after the love of his life gets killed, we delve into the paranormal with some new abilities that he acquires. Now as he aims to find out who killed her and, we learn the true villain behind the mask!

Solid 3.5 Star!!!
Thanks to Victory Editing Net Galley for the ARC! Beyond grateful and humbled

"The Whisper" out DEC 1st 2024

I wanted to like this - action, fantasy elements. However I didn’t click with this narrative. The writing style, language and characters didn’t appeal. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This book was annoying because it normalized cheating and affairs, it is so morally ignorant and that made it unlikeable. If it did not have that aspect and instead focused on a relationship without cheating, it would have been great! I liked the fast pace of the book, and it kept me intrigued. Again it could do without infidelity

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and especially the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!!