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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. The book is constructed around a series of plays, each one forming an "Act" of the novel. I'm sure there's some very in depth analysis that could be done around the choice of plays and how they drive the plot of the story, but for me they just felt like they fit it really well. The different tragedies staged in the Mercury showed us different aspects of our stars as things grew progressively more perilous and frightening. I love that the story is so immersive, which is down to a clever plot but more importantly believable characters that evolve over the course of the novel. None of the characters are sugary sweet, they all have an agenda which is tested in different ways as the cost of loyalty is tested. This did have ghosts and a haunting don’t get me wrong. But it also has a weird amnesia plot line, men with guns, and the mc running from someone who may or may not be out to kill her. And then just like on top of that she just didn’t happens to have the ability to see ghosts that she can apparently turn off and on? She’s supposed to be hiding from men who want to kill her, but instead of doing that she’s openly walking around town digging for info about a 50+ year old murder so she can put the ghost to rest? Don’t even get me started on the fact that she doesn’t know who’s dangerous or who isn’t…. But gives tons of info that could be important away. The whole memory thing was just….. ugh. I don’t wanna rip into this because it’s cozy horror….
This novel reflects that drawing in quality, that edge of something not quite seen. The children of the town had been warned about the rainforest and the granite boulders. Yet they all went there, with a jingling friendship bracelet tied around their wrist. To save themselves from the siren song of the land? Mrs Dyer is an interesting character, on the surface she appears the victim, an unloved wife whose husband frivolously spends her wealth, a woman scorned who desperately wants to protect her daughter and seeks a confidant in Jenny. Though her actions are not quite genuine, her jealousy permeates and her generosity towards Jenny only signals manipulation, her kindness causing Jenny guilt and a sense that she owes Mrs Dyer a great debt. Mrs Dyer claims that Lilith is the deceiver, the thorn in her side, yet Mrs Dyer is also Jenny’s thorn. Mrs Dyer is ruthless and is arguably more akin to Lady Macbeth than Lilith is. Yet perhaps in a patriarchal society these three women need a touch of Lady Macbeth in them just to survive.
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The novel opens with our protagonist, Callum Haffenden, returning (somewhat reluctantly) to Granite Creek. Despite his hesitation, he is implacably drawn to the latest missing person case in Granite Creek. Despite his dread of his past, of the whispering, he must, once and for all, discover the truth. As I watched her, washed in that red light, I almost believed that Melpomene was on her way. Every beat of the drum was a footstep. There’s many topical themes in the book, all added with a deft touch, including domestic violence, racism, sexual harassment, date rape and PTSD. There's many more, but here is one final example, "She was certain the graveyard would be full if she used her second sight. She touched the muscle and felt it ache. It was still sore from the previous night, so she didn't pull on it." I thought the so called muscle was deep inside her head? How exactly is she touching it?
Some experts say this was intentional, while others argue that it was a mistake in the original sketches that was never corrected.
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The “whispering gallery” at Grand Central Station can be found in the terminal’s dining area on the lower floor outside the Oyster Bar & Restaurant . These guidelines and standards aim to keep the content on Booking.com relevant and family-friendly without limiting expression of strong opinions. They are also applicable regardless of the sentiment of the comment. With a vividly portrayed atmosphere, that pervades every moment of the book, The Whispering is a deeply situational text. I’m not very familiar with the tropical rainforest area depicted in this book, but thanks to the author’s descriptive prose, I could imagine this setting incredibly well. As my mind and imagination went into overdrive, so did my sense of unease. The location base of The Whispering is steeped in suspicion, tension, fretfulness, turmoil and anxiety. The setting seems to go hand in hand with the narrative, making The Whispering a top notch read. I certainly enjoyed the stirring tension that pervades this novel.
The way it was written took some of the pleasure out of this read for me. There was a lot of telling, telling me each and every little detail sometimes. I nearly quit it a few times. I kept going anyway, I found enough to have hope that the story would develop beyond that level. The telling got better towards the end enough that I'll give book two a try. There where holes in the story, big ones, perhaps they'll be filled later in the series. First books in a series are always tough. As the curtains open on this disturbing Purcell play, your sense should be twitching as every single one is going to be
From the initial missing person search, we begin to understand in greater depth Callum’s real reason for being there. And what we discover is a bitter and tragic past that becomes compelling as it slowly unfolds. The author does a remarkable job of gradually telling Callum’s story by unravelling his past as he comes to terms with his return to Granite Creek. The story begins with Callum Heffenden returning to Granite Creek 30 years after he left vowing never to return. Deep down, I was every bit as sentimental and self-deceiving as Mrs Dyer herself. For I wanted her to be the kind benefactor from a story-book, my fairy godmother. I wanted my happy ending.”
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