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Bishop/Special Crimes Unit #5
Whisper of Evil
Someone is stalking the little town of Silence...Three victims have fallen to a killer’s savage vengeance. Each of the dead men was a successful and respected member of the community—yet each also harbored a dark secret discovered only after his murder. Were their deaths the ultimate punishment for those secrets? Or something even more sinister?Nell Gallagher has come home to Silence more than a decade after leaving one dark night with her own painful secrets. Forced now by family duty to return, she has also come home to settle with the past. But past and present tangle in a murderer’s vicious attacks, and to find the answers she needs, Nell must call on the psychic skills that drove her away years before. She must risk her own life and sanity, and regain the trust of the man she left behind so long ago.For the killer she seeks is seeking her, watching her every move, preying upon her every vulnerability—and already so close she’ll never see death coming...
Mass Market Paperback
First published June 25, 2002
489 people are currently reading
3579 people want to read
About the author
Kay Hooper
97 books2,447 followersKay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
June 14, 2017
When you have FBI psychics scattered all over the place, it is no wonder that this series is about recruiting other psychics. Even though the writer seems to be fixed on small towns, there is no shortage of psychic phenomenon going on in each murder. Agent Bishop is head honcho, lead psychic and he is married to none other than his one true love, Miranda, who is also psychic. In the small town of Silence, undercover 'psychic' FBI agents try to solve the brutal murders of 3 men, who held secrets. Heinous secrets.
I suppose this series is starting to grow on me but I sure wish I could find something more along the lines of Harry Bosch. I think I'll settle for Agent Bishop because he's about as close as I'm going to get to my 'Bull in a China Shop' Harry, not to mention the murders are incredibly complex, and brilliant in these novels. I like this author, she is very creative with her stories.
I suppose this series is starting to grow on me but I sure wish I could find something more along the lines of Harry Bosch. I think I'll settle for Agent Bishop because he's about as close as I'm going to get to my 'Bull in a China Shop' Harry, not to mention the murders are incredibly complex, and brilliant in these novels. I like this author, she is very creative with her stories.
March 23, 2020
Bu tarz polisiyelerden artık gına mı geldi acaba?
Vasiyet sebebiyle doğduğu kasabaya dönen baş rol kendini bir cinayetler sofrasında bulur. Nedense ara ara baygınlık geçirir. Başka bir başrolle yakınlaşır. Falan filan.
Bir haftadır okuma hevesimi evire çevire benzetti. Bir sonraki sayfaya geçmek işkence gibi geliyordu. Zaten yazı fontu ve baskı beni delirtti.
Çeviri deseniz ayrı telden. Emeğe saygı elbette ama ben hiç beğenmedim bu kitabı 👎🏻
Vasiyet sebebiyle doğduğu kasabaya dönen baş rol kendini bir cinayetler sofrasında bulur. Nedense ara ara baygınlık geçirir. Başka bir başrolle yakınlaşır. Falan filan.
Bir haftadır okuma hevesimi evire çevire benzetti. Bir sonraki sayfaya geçmek işkence gibi geliyordu. Zaten yazı fontu ve baskı beni delirtti.
Çeviri deseniz ayrı telden. Emeğe saygı elbette ama ben hiç beğenmedim bu kitabı 👎🏻
May 24, 2014
Psychic FBI agents pursuing evil while falling in love. What more could you want?
July 12, 2025
A good book with a few flaws. I've been reading the series for a while and I can't really say why I'm making such slow progress. There are now 20+ books? It's always fun to read, but the narrative style is sometimes annoying. Everything is deliberately made so complicated that I find myself reading sections twice to understand what's being said. It's a shame, really, because the idea, the characters, and the stories are great. I'll keep reading, but I hope for more clarity in the series.
January 25, 2023
Whisper of Evil
3 Stars
A good premise but the poor character development and weak investigative process make this a mediocre addition to the series.
The pacing is off as the buildup toward the climax is drawn out and tedious while the denouement is too rapid and anti-climactic.
The romance reads like an afterthought. While Max and Nell have the potential for some sizzling chemistry, their past relationship is revealed in dribs and drabs, which makes it difficult for the reader to care about them one way or the other. In fact, the secondary romance between Shelby and Justin is far more engaging.
In terms of the serial killer plot, other than the profile indicating that the killer is a cop (this is revealed at the outset so its not a spoiler), there are absolutely NO clues as to his or her identity because the secondary cast is not fleshed out AT ALL. Moreover, the psychic elements contribute very little to the investigation and the twist is predictable.
Overall, not up to Hooper's standards.
3 Stars
A good premise but the poor character development and weak investigative process make this a mediocre addition to the series.
The pacing is off as the buildup toward the climax is drawn out and tedious while the denouement is too rapid and anti-climactic.
The romance reads like an afterthought. While Max and Nell have the potential for some sizzling chemistry, their past relationship is revealed in dribs and drabs, which makes it difficult for the reader to care about them one way or the other. In fact, the secondary romance between Shelby and Justin is far more engaging.
In terms of the serial killer plot, other than the profile indicating that the killer is a cop (this is revealed at the outset so its not a spoiler), there are absolutely NO clues as to his or her identity because the secondary cast is not fleshed out AT ALL. Moreover, the psychic elements contribute very little to the investigation and the twist is predictable.
Overall, not up to Hooper's standards.
December 1, 2015
I love how I can never figure out who the killer is. I can always figure it out usually about halfway into a book but I have never been able to figure out who the killers are in any of these books and I love it
September 29, 2018
Whisper of Evil is book 5 of the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit by Kay Hooper. Nell Gallagher came home to Silence after the death of her father and to settle with her past. However, after the death of three well know men in the community Nell must use her psychic powers again to save lives. The readers of Whisper of Evil will continue to follow the twists and turns of Nell Gallagher investigation to find out who killed the men and blamed it on Nell Gallagher.
I love reading the books in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series. The portrayal of the characters with there individual psychic skills that they use to find criminals ensures that I engaged with the plot of each book in the series.
Whisper of Evil continued my love affair with this series. The characters, the plot and the description of the settings were done wonderfully by Kay Hooper. Whisper of Evil was well written and researched by Kay Hooper, and I did enjoy reading this book.
Reading Whisper of Evil allows me to start to learn to understand psychic and their role in law enforcement and the community. I like that Kay Hooper in Whisper of Evil highlights the damage family violence has on the children.
I recommend this book.
I love reading the books in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series. The portrayal of the characters with there individual psychic skills that they use to find criminals ensures that I engaged with the plot of each book in the series.
Whisper of Evil continued my love affair with this series. The characters, the plot and the description of the settings were done wonderfully by Kay Hooper. Whisper of Evil was well written and researched by Kay Hooper, and I did enjoy reading this book.
Reading Whisper of Evil allows me to start to learn to understand psychic and their role in law enforcement and the community. I like that Kay Hooper in Whisper of Evil highlights the damage family violence has on the children.
I recommend this book.
September 4, 2014
So Close to Being So Good
The Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series is a paranormal suspense series that includes romances but at times drifts between wanting to focus on the romance and then pulling back, wanting to focus on the crime mystery but then pulls back. At times the books feel like there is a deep struggle for what the focus of the book is.
THE STORY: Nell Gallagher returns to her hometown after the death of her father to settle the estate. It is not a good time to be in town because there have been four murders of prominent men who appear to have been killed because of secrets they possessed. It is quickly revealed that Nell actually works for the SCU and is in town undercover to help solve the murder. Her paranormal talent is that she can see scenes in locations that happened in the past and sometimes in the future. Her talent, however, makes her vulnerable because it takes a lot of energy. Returning has been difficult for Nell especially because of the presence of the man she left behind.
Max Tanner was in love with Nell as a young man and was puzzled and devastated when she abandoned him and left town. Now that she has returned, he has questions that he wants answered. But more than anything, he wants to protect Nell from the evil that is in town.
OPINION: This book was so close to be a great read. The relationship between Nell and Max was great. I liked the angst between them and how they find their way together again. I was intrigued by such a close psychic relationship between a non-talent and a talent. Unfortunately, the trouble in the relationship is really about Nell keeping secret information about their pasts. For much of the book, the question is what happened to make Nell leave. By the time the information is revealed, I just didn't feel that disclosure satisfied the buildup. I was disappointed because I really liked the couple and wished that the book had embraced their relationship more.
The story of the murders was interesting, but there was no way that a reader could have guessed the identity of the murderer. At the same time, the story was very creepy and the investigation stretched Nell's abilities and I wanted to know the solution.
I did like the book, I just felt that it could have been great rather than just good.
WORTH MENTIONING: I loved the cameo appearance of Bishop and Miranda. Their appearance makes every book better.
FINAL DECISION: I have more mixed feelings about this book than my final decision. I would read this book again even though I was somewhat disappointed it. Nell and Max are one of my favorite couples of the series even though I wish there was more about their relationship development in this book.
CONNECTED BOOKS: This book is the fifth book in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series. It can be read independent of the other books in the series although there are some overlapping characters.
STAR RATING: I give this book a solid 4 stars.
The Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series is a paranormal suspense series that includes romances but at times drifts between wanting to focus on the romance and then pulling back, wanting to focus on the crime mystery but then pulls back. At times the books feel like there is a deep struggle for what the focus of the book is.
THE STORY: Nell Gallagher returns to her hometown after the death of her father to settle the estate. It is not a good time to be in town because there have been four murders of prominent men who appear to have been killed because of secrets they possessed. It is quickly revealed that Nell actually works for the SCU and is in town undercover to help solve the murder. Her paranormal talent is that she can see scenes in locations that happened in the past and sometimes in the future. Her talent, however, makes her vulnerable because it takes a lot of energy. Returning has been difficult for Nell especially because of the presence of the man she left behind.
Max Tanner was in love with Nell as a young man and was puzzled and devastated when she abandoned him and left town. Now that she has returned, he has questions that he wants answered. But more than anything, he wants to protect Nell from the evil that is in town.
OPINION: This book was so close to be a great read. The relationship between Nell and Max was great. I liked the angst between them and how they find their way together again. I was intrigued by such a close psychic relationship between a non-talent and a talent. Unfortunately, the trouble in the relationship is really about Nell keeping secret information about their pasts. For much of the book, the question is what happened to make Nell leave. By the time the information is revealed, I just didn't feel that disclosure satisfied the buildup. I was disappointed because I really liked the couple and wished that the book had embraced their relationship more.
The story of the murders was interesting, but there was no way that a reader could have guessed the identity of the murderer. At the same time, the story was very creepy and the investigation stretched Nell's abilities and I wanted to know the solution.
I did like the book, I just felt that it could have been great rather than just good.
WORTH MENTIONING: I loved the cameo appearance of Bishop and Miranda. Their appearance makes every book better.
FINAL DECISION: I have more mixed feelings about this book than my final decision. I would read this book again even though I was somewhat disappointed it. Nell and Max are one of my favorite couples of the series even though I wish there was more about their relationship development in this book.
CONNECTED BOOKS: This book is the fifth book in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series. It can be read independent of the other books in the series although there are some overlapping characters.
STAR RATING: I give this book a solid 4 stars.
September 11, 2016
These books just keep getting better and better.
November 1, 2016
This was fine. It was solid fare of the same flavor of the previous books. I think that my mini-gorge of the first five books in the series will be enough for now. These books, while enjoyable for fluff reading are formulaic, because, although previous characters always make cameos, it always features a new psychic woman, and she always gets back together with her first love, who is a "protector" male. Eh. I think I would enjoy this series astronomically better if it weren't so focused on the same, not developed love story that ends at happily-ever-after (this time around, because it has to be second-chance to suit the 30-something main character and readership), was more about the core Special Crimes Unit members.
October 31, 2012
Another paranormal murder mystery by Kay Hooper. I enjoy books with twists and this has a few that pop up at the end. My only complaint with Hooper's mysteries is that the bad guy tends to be someone who there is no way you could have seen that person being the murderer. It tends to be some non-descript character who is mentioned a few times in a meaningless manner. So to those who say "I didn't see that one coming" I respond "Who could have?"
Nevertheless her mysteries are fun quick reads that you will enjoy. I have enjoyed the SCU FBI books. Bishop and Miranda make small appearences.
Nevertheless her mysteries are fun quick reads that you will enjoy. I have enjoyed the SCU FBI books. Bishop and Miranda make small appearences.
March 17, 2021
*This review can also be found on my book review blog, The Never-Ending TBR Pile.
Intense. Psychological. Twisted.
Nell has always had abilities that no one has understood. Abilities that cause her to run away at the age of seventeen and sends her a bit adrift until she becomes an agent for the FBI and joins the Special Crimes Unit. Suddenly she's surrounded by others similar to her and begins to learn what it is she's truly capable of.
When murders begin taking place in her hometown, Nell is forced to return and face the past she's been running away from. She's also there to put her abilities to the test before more murders occur. With the help of a man she ran away from all those years ago, she slowly works through both her past issues and the current case to reach a shocking conclusion that isn't fully realized until the end.
This book was full of intense, atmospheric scenes and philosophical as well as scientific discussions about the existence and credibility of people with psychic abilities. It was thoroughly plotted and deeply rich in character development and interactions that made for a great read. And the red herrings and twists were well woven into the story line to actually have the reader wondering is it this person or that person or someone else entirely that's committing the murders.
In all, an excellent murder mystery with a well paced plot and intense dialogue that kept me turning the pages to the very end.
Intense. Psychological. Twisted.
Nell has always had abilities that no one has understood. Abilities that cause her to run away at the age of seventeen and sends her a bit adrift until she becomes an agent for the FBI and joins the Special Crimes Unit. Suddenly she's surrounded by others similar to her and begins to learn what it is she's truly capable of.
When murders begin taking place in her hometown, Nell is forced to return and face the past she's been running away from. She's also there to put her abilities to the test before more murders occur. With the help of a man she ran away from all those years ago, she slowly works through both her past issues and the current case to reach a shocking conclusion that isn't fully realized until the end.
This book was full of intense, atmospheric scenes and philosophical as well as scientific discussions about the existence and credibility of people with psychic abilities. It was thoroughly plotted and deeply rich in character development and interactions that made for a great read. And the red herrings and twists were well woven into the story line to actually have the reader wondering is it this person or that person or someone else entirely that's committing the murders.
In all, an excellent murder mystery with a well paced plot and intense dialogue that kept me turning the pages to the very end.
June 29, 2017
A plot full of twists and turns, just when you think you have figured out who the killer is another possibility is tossed in front of you. The 5th book in a paranormal FBI group series that is interesting and suspenseful. You absolutely don't have to read the series in order as any of these could be read as a stand alone. However, you would be missing out on subtle nuances that allow the steady flow of characters to develop and flesh out further for you.
February 9, 2020
Kay Hooper's books are all fabulous reads.
She writes fast-paced mysteries with a supernatural bent.
The team dynamics are perfection and the sexual tension just adds to the story.
I highly recommend these books. They are perfect for reading at the beach or for spending the day curled up in front of the fireplace.
She writes fast-paced mysteries with a supernatural bent.
The team dynamics are perfection and the sexual tension just adds to the story.
I highly recommend these books. They are perfect for reading at the beach or for spending the day curled up in front of the fireplace.
January 13, 2021
I didn't dig the ending BUT it was engaging, kept me guessing constantly and scared me (but I'm pretty much scared of anything spooky so you can't judge it by that 😅) I would have loved if the romance arc was more explored.. A different concept that's for sure..
October 3, 2017
This is the first book I read by Kay Hooper and it shurely won't be the last. It was a real page-turner for me. The plot is complex ,every character has a secret and maybe there are too many story lines but it was ok with me. The book has so many unexpected twists and turns that readers won't be able to predict what happens next. Can't wait to read another book by this author.
February 1, 2021
A real good mystery. The characters were strong and the story flowed very well. The author had you guessing and would drop hints just as you figured you’d figured it out.
Want to read
April 7, 2019Synopsis: Nell Gallagher has come home to the town of Silence where someone is seaking victims. Three have already been found.
August 15, 2019
"Someone is stalking the little town of Silence. Three victims have fallen to a killer’s savage vengeance. Each of the dead men was a successful and respected member of the community—yet each also harbored a dark secret discovered only after his murder. Were their deaths the ultimate punishment for those secrets? Or something even more sinister? Nell Gallagher has come home to silence more than a decade after leaving one dark night with her own painful secrets. Forced now by family duty to return, she has also come home to settle with the past. But past and present tangle in a murderer’s vicious attacks, and to find the answers she needs, Nell must call on the psychic skills that drove her away years before. She must risk her own life and sanity, and regain the trust of the man she left behind so long ago. For the killer she seeks is seeking her, watching her every move, preying upon her every vulnerability—and already so close she’ll never see death coming . . ."
June 10, 2018
June 2018 — I love this series so much, but this book is not one of my favorites. It feels so disjointed and hard to follow. It makes it really hard to get into it. I can read most of this series straight through, but with this one it was a chapter here and a chapter there... while each book can be considered a stand alone they really do work better when you read each one, so I still recommend that you read it if you plan on continuing the series.
October 2014 — Not quite as good as her other books, but I still enjoyed it.
October 2014 — Not quite as good as her other books, but I still enjoyed it.
August 13, 2016
I never felt involved with the story nor with any of the characters. I really dislike writting style that has too many threads and introduce characters that have no real input to the story. I want well developed, strong and likeable main characters, good dialogue and interestingly plotted storyline. Something like e.g Dream Man by Linda Howard.
September 8, 2019
Nell Gallagher returns to Silence, Louisiana after twelve years away, having left abruptly when she was seventeen, much to the heartbreak of her boyfriend, Max Tanner. She's back to take care of family responsibilities, but also to assist with the investigation into the murders of four men, all with terrible secrets in their past. As a psychic who receives visions, Nell hopes that she can get a fix on who the killer is. She also hopes she can put off any heart to heart talks with Max, even though she's asked for his help. Nell had reasons for what she did and opening herself up to Max Tanner is no longer an option, though everything in her pushes her to do it.
This wasn't my favorite, probably having to do with the second chance romance aspect which was not executed as perfectly as the last one I read from this author. In this, Nell and Max "bonded" when she was 17, but because of an abusive home life and some things that she saw in a vision, she ran from home without a word to Max. He could still occasionally feel her through the bond, but couldn't contact her, couldn't communicate with her and he couldn't move on. Then all of a sudden, she shows up on Silence without any warning and he's faced with the woman he's never stopped loving or worrying about. Nell had a lot to answer for in my opinion, and other than a "sorry" here and there, I never really felt like she had any remorse for the way she treated him. I mean, I get that she'd do it again, but she didn't seem to care very much that her actions kind of destroyed his life and left him in limbo for 12 years. And on top of that, she comes home expecting to use him for her own ends in finding a murderer. At least she didn't come back all smug and expecting to get back together with him...in fact, she was trying to keep him at a distance for a lot of the same reasons as she left. But the romance on this one didn't sit well with me for that reason.
The suspense was still as strong as always. There were a few things that I kind of saw coming before they happened and I don't know if that was the author's intention or not. For example, as soon as they mentioned , I knew that the killer was . And I was spot on with that one. I also strongly suspect that . Another good guess for me. Maybe I'm getting used to this author's twists and can spot them now (maybe I'm psychic now), or maybe this just wasn't as mysterious. I still found the suspense as enjoyable as ever, even though I made a lot of correct guesses...it didn't detract and I don't know that author was obvious in dropping her clues. I still really enjoy how she slyly drops those red herrings (like the suspicion that Bishop's profile was wrong and all the evidence that pointed to it) and makes the reader actually doubt their own suspicions. This author does that really well. So another enjoyable one, but this one brought down a bit by the romance. Damn second chance romances...
This wasn't my favorite, probably having to do with the second chance romance aspect which was not executed as perfectly as the last one I read from this author. In this, Nell and Max "bonded" when she was 17, but because of an abusive home life and some things that she saw in a vision, she ran from home without a word to Max. He could still occasionally feel her through the bond, but couldn't contact her, couldn't communicate with her and he couldn't move on. Then all of a sudden, she shows up on Silence without any warning and he's faced with the woman he's never stopped loving or worrying about. Nell had a lot to answer for in my opinion, and other than a "sorry" here and there, I never really felt like she had any remorse for the way she treated him. I mean, I get that she'd do it again, but she didn't seem to care very much that her actions kind of destroyed his life and left him in limbo for 12 years. And on top of that, she comes home expecting to use him for her own ends in finding a murderer. At least she didn't come back all smug and expecting to get back together with him...in fact, she was trying to keep him at a distance for a lot of the same reasons as she left. But the romance on this one didn't sit well with me for that reason.
The suspense was still as strong as always. There were a few things that I kind of saw coming before they happened and I don't know if that was the author's intention or not. For example, as soon as they mentioned , I knew that the killer was . And I was spot on with that one. I also strongly suspect that . Another good guess for me. Maybe I'm getting used to this author's twists and can spot them now (maybe I'm psychic now), or maybe this just wasn't as mysterious. I still found the suspense as enjoyable as ever, even though I made a lot of correct guesses...it didn't detract and I don't know that author was obvious in dropping her clues. I still really enjoy how she slyly drops those red herrings (like the suspicion that Bishop's profile was wrong and all the evidence that pointed to it) and makes the reader actually doubt their own suspicions. This author does that really well. So another enjoyable one, but this one brought down a bit by the romance. Damn second chance romances...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2018
Prior to writing this review, but after reading the book for myself, I've seen a lot of complaints about the simplicity of this story as compared to the others in the series. Some have argued that the villain in Whisper of Evil is so much more bland and pedestrian than other villains we have seen, and so there seemed to be a bit of let-down with the story overall.
I did not feel that way.
Once an author gets five books into a series, there is a lot of risk of repetitive themes, characters, and even phrasing that can lead readers to feel like they're just reading the exact same book over and over again. There's also a risk of reader fatigue, if an author attempts to keep escalating the series with every book. At some point, the story line will reach a point where it cannot reasonably escalate anymore.
In my opinion, Kay Hooper has done a fantastic job of creating a balance in the story line. There has been a lot of escalation, and I tore through the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books in a matter of days. I started to feel reader's fatigue, and then I reached this story. It was so refreshing. I felt a very deliberate slowing that let me absorb more of the "science" of the psychic abilities discussed. I really, really enjoyed that.
I also felt that the story made sense being a bit slower. After all, Nell is a newbie, and she wouldn't be thrown into the very thick of things right off the bat. Anybody who tries to take on more than their abilities allow typically fails spectacularly. And I really like Nell's character, so I was really pleased to see her progress and overcome.
Probably my favorite part of Whisper of Evil, though, was the way non-psychics are starting to be incorporated into the overall plot line. I feel like this is a great way to kind of keep the sense of magic alive for readers. "I may not have abilities, but maybe my partner will or my best friend."
Kay Hooper's stories place a lot of importance on genuine bonds between people. Not just loyalty or even love, but soul-deep bonds and connections. It's inspiring to read, and that is a big part of what keeps me coming back for more in this series.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
I did not feel that way.
Once an author gets five books into a series, there is a lot of risk of repetitive themes, characters, and even phrasing that can lead readers to feel like they're just reading the exact same book over and over again. There's also a risk of reader fatigue, if an author attempts to keep escalating the series with every book. At some point, the story line will reach a point where it cannot reasonably escalate anymore.
In my opinion, Kay Hooper has done a fantastic job of creating a balance in the story line. There has been a lot of escalation, and I tore through the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books in a matter of days. I started to feel reader's fatigue, and then I reached this story. It was so refreshing. I felt a very deliberate slowing that let me absorb more of the "science" of the psychic abilities discussed. I really, really enjoyed that.
I also felt that the story made sense being a bit slower. After all, Nell is a newbie, and she wouldn't be thrown into the very thick of things right off the bat. Anybody who tries to take on more than their abilities allow typically fails spectacularly. And I really like Nell's character, so I was really pleased to see her progress and overcome.
Probably my favorite part of Whisper of Evil, though, was the way non-psychics are starting to be incorporated into the overall plot line. I feel like this is a great way to kind of keep the sense of magic alive for readers. "I may not have abilities, but maybe my partner will or my best friend."
Kay Hooper's stories place a lot of importance on genuine bonds between people. Not just loyalty or even love, but soul-deep bonds and connections. It's inspiring to read, and that is a big part of what keeps me coming back for more in this series.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
June 2, 2017
This book would make a spooky movie. It has all of the thngs that would make an audience be swept up in the horror of the plot.
It is the story of a young woman who returns to her home town of Silence to handle the estate of her father. She arrives in town after 4 men have been murdered, all who have dark secrets. When she left 12 years earlier she escaped severing all ties, saying good bye to no one, not even the young man who loved her.
Nell Gallagher returns to her fathers house and begins to face some of the deep secrets she had buried years ago. Nell has some psychic abilities, which she always had found frightening, that had kept her quite removed from those around her...and they will likely put her life at risk as she digs deeper into her past.
The one weakness this book has is that the author feels compelled to keep offering up explanations about the paranormal, and different 'gifts' people have who experience it. These constant attempts to try to convince the reader that the paranormal exists are very distracting....which is why I rated this book a three, even though the plot line and characters should have merited a four start rating. A good fast read.
It is the story of a young woman who returns to her home town of Silence to handle the estate of her father. She arrives in town after 4 men have been murdered, all who have dark secrets. When she left 12 years earlier she escaped severing all ties, saying good bye to no one, not even the young man who loved her.
Nell Gallagher returns to her fathers house and begins to face some of the deep secrets she had buried years ago. Nell has some psychic abilities, which she always had found frightening, that had kept her quite removed from those around her...and they will likely put her life at risk as she digs deeper into her past.
The one weakness this book has is that the author feels compelled to keep offering up explanations about the paranormal, and different 'gifts' people have who experience it. These constant attempts to try to convince the reader that the paranormal exists are very distracting....which is why I rated this book a three, even though the plot line and characters should have merited a four start rating. A good fast read.
February 12, 2019
Nell Gallagher returns to the town she fled twelve years earlier to settle her father's estate. Some people are anything but pleased by her return, including Max Tanner, the man she stood up on the night of her senior prom with no notice or explanation. The town of Silence, Louisiana is currently dealing with four murders of local men with dirty secrets in their lives. Lacombe Parish Sheriff Ethan Cole has his eye on Max as a possible suspect for two of the murders, but doesn't have any real evidence.
Small town secrets, a woman warped by her childhood, another dealing with a curse that involves more than just psychic abilities. And a web of secrets that is tightening around the people of Silence.
Nell is a psychic who can read impressions left in a location, most of them are past events, but others are sometimes from the future. Returning home for more than just the death of her hated father seems to be increasing the tension she feels, as well as putting more and more stress on her abilities.
The cast of characters in this one are all interested. My suspicions about Lauren were off-base, but still close. Poor Justin, he should be glad that his interests were directed towards Shelby instead of Lauren. I don't think Bishop would be very happy otherwise. We also get to meet the mysterious Galen once again. I really, really want to know more about him.
The exploration of evil and the forms it can take is getting intriguing, especially with the use of out-of-body travel to spy on others and, in certain cases, being able to influence another's actions. Hooper has done some serious studying on paranormal activities as well as making intelligent suppositions on what might be possible. The series is getting better and better, as well as increasingly intense. 4.5 out of 5.
Small town secrets, a woman warped by her childhood, another dealing with a curse that involves more than just psychic abilities. And a web of secrets that is tightening around the people of Silence.
Nell is a psychic who can read impressions left in a location, most of them are past events, but others are sometimes from the future. Returning home for more than just the death of her hated father seems to be increasing the tension she feels, as well as putting more and more stress on her abilities.
The cast of characters in this one are all interested. My suspicions about Lauren were off-base, but still close. Poor Justin, he should be glad that his interests were directed towards Shelby instead of Lauren. I don't think Bishop would be very happy otherwise. We also get to meet the mysterious Galen once again. I really, really want to know more about him.
The exploration of evil and the forms it can take is getting intriguing, especially with the use of out-of-body travel to spy on others and, in certain cases, being able to influence another's actions. Hooper has done some serious studying on paranormal activities as well as making intelligent suppositions on what might be possible. The series is getting better and better, as well as increasingly intense. 4.5 out of 5.
December 11, 2021
Had quite a bit of nasty victim-blaming (a young teen "seducing" some grown man with a BDSM dungeon in his basement who left her with permanent scars, and then a few years later it being totally her fault she got with a pedophile?), and some completely glossed over gross age-gap shit between the main character and her love interest (she was 16-17, he was 21-22). The age gap makes it even weirder that the way Nell "wronged" Max is by leaving him and having boundaries and personal secrets. Max who stalks her, who takes advantage of her being out-of-it to get information from her, who ignored her "No" so that she wouldn't have time to think and he could access her body and mind without her having the chance to protest (but she enjoyed it so that makes it okay! /s).
Not to mention the pathological need to always put the female protagonist in a position of inferiority/needing to be protected, even though she's the FBI agent this time. It's two decades old so there's a chance the author has grown out of her misogyny by now, but considering as the past few books were more misogynistic than the first few, I don't have high hopes.
Not to mention the pathological need to always put the female protagonist in a position of inferiority/needing to be protected, even though she's the FBI agent this time. It's two decades old so there's a chance the author has grown out of her misogyny by now, but considering as the past few books were more misogynistic than the first few, I don't have high hopes.
November 1, 2021
Another enjoyable read from this series! Was glad to see Galen again; he intrigued me in the last book, and I would really like to know more about his real abilities and back story - hopefully, in the following books...Also, I think that Max and Nell's story needed a bit more something...and there were few questions that I didn't really get an answer to...I felt really bad for Hailey - another (albeit fictional) illustration of the importance of truly loving parents, as well as the danger of early exposure of children to sex, and not protecting their innocence - something the modern culture really makes a mincemeat of; but based on her actions, I think she did eventually fell in love with Ethan....as always, the comic reliefs were great, especially the repeated references to the irony of the town's name...
March 14, 2024
Out of the three in the Evil Trilogy, this was my least favorite. Still a good read with the typical pattern in Hooper's other books in the series. It reads like a crime show episode where we get introduced to characters, shown crimes, then there's an "aha" moment in the last ten minutes where everything is wrapped up nicely.
I like these books a lot I wish there were endings that did not end perfectly or with our main detective finding love and managing to survive the final fight with at worst a gunshot wound.
However, this was still a fun read. I didn't care for Nell as much as I liked Maggie and Isabel. I wish the powers differed more. I loved the idea of this being centered around hearing evil and felt that aspect was lacking compared to the other books.
All in all it's a solid trilogy and I'm excited to keep reading through the SCU universe Hooper has created.
I like these books a lot I wish there were endings that did not end perfectly or with our main detective finding love and managing to survive the final fight with at worst a gunshot wound.
However, this was still a fun read. I didn't care for Nell as much as I liked Maggie and Isabel. I wish the powers differed more. I loved the idea of this being centered around hearing evil and felt that aspect was lacking compared to the other books.
All in all it's a solid trilogy and I'm excited to keep reading through the SCU universe Hooper has created.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2018
Another of my favourites in this series. The paranormal is on point, and right up my alley, visions, connections, black outs, oh my! The mystery was fun, intriguing and kept me guessing (although I did remember pretty quick on the re-read).
The romance, was again, not the main play of the book. It had more depth than some of the others in the series, but it was still filled with, what I found, lackluster reveals and come together moments. But I've never read this books for their romance, at least not mainly.
So if you like a good paranormal mystery - jump right in! If you are looking for a riveting love story, maybe read something else (but come back to this when you are in the right mood!!)
The romance, was again, not the main play of the book. It had more depth than some of the others in the series, but it was still filled with, what I found, lackluster reveals and come together moments. But I've never read this books for their romance, at least not mainly.
So if you like a good paranormal mystery - jump right in! If you are looking for a riveting love story, maybe read something else (but come back to this when you are in the right mood!!)
January 6, 2019
Although I enjoyed this book, the behind the scenes information could have been fleshed out more. There was a whisper of evil felt from the moment Nell Gallagher returned to her hometown, a year after her father's death. We hear it often, as does Nell, and we see her start to slip a little in the sanity area, as she wonders exactly what is happening.
There are twists and turns, such as the appearance of a toy from her childhood, suspicions from the locals, and the sudden appearance of allies just when they are needed, that keep the reader in suspense.
It was a good plot, with several strong characters, but more of Nell's history and information on the locals should have been included. Still a good read.
There are twists and turns, such as the appearance of a toy from her childhood, suspicions from the locals, and the sudden appearance of allies just when they are needed, that keep the reader in suspense.
It was a good plot, with several strong characters, but more of Nell's history and information on the locals should have been included. Still a good read.
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