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The Whisper Man by Alex North


The Whisper Man by Alex North came up as a recommendation for me on Goodreads. I checked out the Amazon preview of the book and I was intrigued enough to buy it. Before I got a chance to read it, I noticed it was a bargain book on Books-a-Million's website. That should have been my first clue that the 4.05 average the book has on Goodreads might be too good to be true. I have found in the past that recent titles in the bargain section of Books-a-Million are there for a reason.

I just could not get in to this story. I am a quick reader, especially when I am interested in a story. Granted, there was a lot going on in the world this week that pulled my attention from reading, but when I enjoy a story I always find a way to make time to get plenty of reading done.

Tom Kennedy and his young son Jake pack up and move to the town of Featherbank after the death of wife and mom Rebecca. Before they move, and immediately after they arrive, creepy things are happening. The story seemed like it was going to have some paranormal elements, but the imaginary friend is nothing more than that. The missing and murdered boys whose killer had been found 20 years before the Kennedy's arrival are brought back to the forefront when another young boy goes missing. The only interesting twist that sort of connects the old crimes with the new lives the Kennedy's are attempting to lead was lacking in substance once it was revealed. The lead up to the final showdown and closing of the new case once and for all was anti-climatic and left much to be desired. 

I expected a spine-tingling, Stephen King type story, and that is not what I got. Alex North's writing is good, but I found myself continuously looking for more. More details, more backstory, more scene setting, basically more of everything. The cause and details of Rebecca's death were danced around until the very end. I thought that would end up being because there was more to the story, or a freaky tie to what Jake and Tom were experiencing after their move to Featherbank, but when I finally got to the end and the "details" were revealed, they were not worth saving for the end.

This story was just blah for me; definitely one to borrow, not buy, if you decide to give it a whirl.

Final rating: ★★☆☆☆

ATY prompt 42: a mystery or thriller

Popsugar Challenge prompt 25: a book that was published anonymously (Alex North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name; I am not sure which name is real and which is not, so I decided it worked for this prompt) 

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Location: Maine, USA

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