The Whisper Man by Alex North

Reviewed by Laura

            After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy feels like a new start in a new town is just the thing to help him and his son, Jake, through their grief process. Unfortunately, he chooses the wrong town. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and killed five children in the town of Featherbank. The murderer, Jack Carver, was known in the press as The Whisper Man due to the fact that he lured children by whispering to them outside their window. Shortly after Tom and Jake arrive, a child disappears in a way reminiscent of these crimes from the past. Jack Carver is still spending time in prison and this new abduction reprises the belief that he did not work alone.

            In addition to this tragic event, Jake is having trouble adjusting to his new school and prefers to sit by himself and draw while talking to his imaginary friend. But is his friend imaginary after all? Things go from bad to worse when Jake begins to hear whispering at his window, as well, and the nightmare begins in earnest.

            This book is listed as a thriller, but could probably earn a horror/thriller classification. There are definitely supernatural elements at work throughout the story. That’s one of the reasons I liked this book so much. There was a human element to the paranormal events that I found especially intriguing. Things are not always what they seem and never more so than in this storyline running chillingly beneath the surface of the central theme. This book will definitely keep your interest, but be warned of the creepy factor ahead of time! You might want to be sure and read it during the light of day, but do give it a read. You won’t be sorry.