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Anyone else who spots something suspicious can always report it to our Customer Service team, so our Fraud team can investigate. I also had the privilege of reading this book together with a group of bookstagrammers for a readalong. It was really fun to listen to other readers’ perspectives, including the symbolisms scattered throughout the book via the birds and plants that made appearances. Not an outdoorsy person myself, this kind of details would’ve easily been lost on me. 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. I worry about the next book. As I said above, I do want to read it. But I’m really afraid that it’s going to end with more loose ends, no solutions, and then I’m going to be kind of mad I read it. I’m both a masochist and an optimist. I’ll try the next one, but I’ll be expecting and hoping for much more! Zoe's stupid ridiculous reasoning for Keira to watch out for Mason is hilarious. She tells her that he went through years of schooling to become a doctor and dropped out his last year. That's it! Ohhhhh scandalous!! Zoe made a noise that was somewhere between derision and annoyance. “Look, I’m not telling you to shun him or anything, but…just be cautious. He’s hiding something. And in my calculated opinion, there’s an extremely high chance that he’s a serial killer who had to flee the campus in fear of being caught.” Why does that mean he's hiding something?? Maybe he couldn't afford school anymore. Maybe someone was going through an illness.
I'll be reviewing it soon, but the Companion also describes the set design, history of the show and the creation of the music, making it a perfect yet unintended and equally gothic companion to The Whispering Muse. There are definitely some unanswered questions, but I have now doubt that they will be answered in the volumes yet to come in this new series. When a man goes missing in the rainforest, the past begins to resurface, breathing new life into memories of previous tragedies - two girls lost, seventeen years apart. In a town where it's easiest to turn a blind eye, the guilt runs deep and everyone in Granite Creek has something to hide. Amendments to bookings made for dates of stay / reduction in the number of people will be subject to availability of rooms and cancellation policy of the Hotel. Laura Purcell, a skilful purveyor of gothic tales, has created another darkly twisting narrative in The Whispering Muse' Sunday TimesWith a storyline that switches between now and thirty years ago, the past unravels itself and rushes up to the present, and long unanswered questions finally get resolved. Set at the Mercury Theatre in Victorian London, Miss Jennifer Wilcox accepts a job offer from Mrs Dyer, the wife of the Mercury's owner. Fallen on hard times - the cause of which is revealed later - Jennifer must provide for her family and despite being brought low by her circumstances, eagerly accepts the position of dresser. Jennifer will need to make and mend all of the costumes, style hair and organise the accessories for the leading actress at the Mercury. The mystery element in The Whispering is a slow burn which worked well in my eyes. The pace is set to a constant beat with some great acceleration towards the end of the novel as the book winds to its highly anticipated conclusion. Tying into some underlying themes around rumour, gossip, reporting, folklore, policing, regret and disability makes Veronica Lando’s debut a liberal slice of Australian crime fiction. The Whispering will ensure you keep your eyes open for the duration, it’s an all consuming read!
I thought this book would be more spookier and would have more shivering chills but really the book was more of a mystery/ghost story which was fine with me as it still drew me into the storyline as I wanted to know more about the lead female character, Keira. Lots of plot holes throughout but I am guessing these will be wrapped up in future installments, this is essentially a novel broken into five parts. According to Darcy, this book has sat completed on her hard drive for years. Reading The Whispering Dead, I felt this was the work of a younger and less experienced author. The Whispering Dead is not up to par with other books by Darcy. So we meet Keira and she doesn't know where she is or even if those are her hands. We do learn that Keira can tell where a gunshot is coming from and that in the woods it's fifty meters away 👀. Lilith, the lead actress is desperate to have a taste of the good life, to become an actress so ethereal, so beloved, that people will adore her for eternity. Enter Melpomene and with a pact firmly in place, Lilith soon becomes infamous yet she must remember the shadow that begins to turn her world darker will only make her more and more hungry for things beyond her reach, even when those around Lilith try to warn her about what lurks in the shadows. Lando’s lead is an excellent character and I gravitated towards this figure from the early moments of the novel, right through to the dramatic close. A man with an inherent drive to get to the truth, I greatly admired Callum’s tough resolve. I also found Callum’s past history in regards to his family and acquaintances interesting to uncover. The folk of Granite Creek are a fantastic conglomeration and I saw them as a very solid representation of a community feeling the impact of such long standing tragedy. Lando interrogates this aspect of her novel at all points, making the community tension aspect a true highlight of this novel.
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It's official: I'm now on a Laura Purcell binge. I fear I may even be coming a fan of Victorian gothic! The story begins with Callum Heffenden returning to Granite Creek 30 years after he left vowing never to return. Okay so Emma had a child to Frank and left it in the mill's secret room so she could find Frank. Frank kills himself right over said room bug doesn't hear anything from the baby? You know what's driving me insane about this is that it's just Keira saying "it must have happened this way". So the baby died overnight in the summer and inside the secret room? Ummm okay! I hate Keira's speculation. Jenny has a hard life, like many families during Victorian London. Jobs are low paying and living conditions are harsh, but she makes do. After her brother leaves them in disgrace, Jenny is made to step up, to become head of the household. Her brother, Bertie needs an operation to correct club foot. They’d almost saved up enough but then her brother took that too. Jenny is invited to The Mercury theatre by its owner’s wife, Mrs Dyer, she fears its to recompense them for all her brother stole. It appears she wants to offer her a position at the theatre of dresser to their leading lady, Lilith. She is paid handsomely, however, there is a catch, of course there is. The threat and presence of Melpomene – well I didn’t know much about this but I did wait until after the novel to research it and wow, so much to learn and investigate. I feel Laura must have had some fun researching all of this.
ARC provided by Ben at Bloomsbury Books. Thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication. But there is so much more going on within the town of Granite Creek. And it’s been going on for more than 30 years. The story was up and down as it seemed to drag in parts, but then the last half of the book took off into a state of suspense and tension when Keira learns some facts about the area and she starts encountering more ghosts that are earth bound.In desperate need of employment, Jenny takes up a job as a dresser at the Mercury Theatre. However, the post comes with strings attached, in that she must spy on the lead actress, Lilith. The latter is a true artiste, with a demanding nature, and a secret that threatens Jenny's employer. As events unfold, this becomes a story of superstition and revenge, with a range of startling deaths to match. 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….
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