Dark Whispers

by Joanne Macgregor

When a patient describes an experience of mental torture and sexual mutilation by a gynaecologist at the private hospital where she works, psychologist Megan Wright decides to investigate. Determined to find out the truth and stop the abuse, but bound to silence by the ethics of confidentiality, Megan must enter the dark mind of a dangerously disturbed man.

Between the anaesthesia and the awakening, are the dark whispers.

Genres: Thriller, Adult, Suspense, Crime

287 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2014

About the author

When not writing, Joanne Macgregor is a counselling psychologist in private practice where she works mainly with victims of crime and trauma.

Although she lives in the frenetic adrenaline-rush of the big city, Joanne has always been in love with nature, and escapes into the wilds whenever she can. She's a Harry Potter fanatic, bakes the best choc-chip cookies on the planet, and is addicted to chilies and bulletproof coffee.

She started her professional life as a high school English teacher and loves writing about, and for, teens. She is the author of several books for Young Adults - Scarred, Recoil, Refuse, Rebel, Hushed and The law of Tall Girls.

Reviews

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I started it on a Saturday morning and finished it by the end of the day. The central character, Megan, is a psychologist at a hospital in Johannesburg. She is treating a woman who is suffering from severe depression after undergoing a fairly straightforward gynaecological procedure. After a session of hypnotherapy with the patient Megan is convinced that the doctor concerned is seriously deranged. Determined to seek out the truth and expose the doctor, and at the same time bound by professional ethics, she embarks on a potentially dangerous clandestine investigation. This is probably the best psychological thriller I have ever read. The story is fast-paced, compelling, and terrifying - there is one particular cliff-hanging chapter that made me feel I needed to go for trauma counselling myself! It has credible characters, an intricate plot with the all important twist in the tale, and a truly likeable protagonist with her own problems - an unsupportive boyfriend, domineering mother and a sister with an eating disorder. Of course there are one or two less credible aspects, such as the seemingly lengthy search for the doctor's identity - which would have been very easy to achieve by checking the profiles of the doctors practising at the hospital - but it certainly makes for a more page-turning experience. I won't hint at the ending - but it is very cleverly done and very satisfying, if a little disturbing. So I highly recommend this book - just don't read it if you are going in for surgery in the near future! In fact, read anything you can find by this author - you won't be disappointed.

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kobiecy thriller medyczny, który potrafi skręcić wnętrzności, czyli „Mroczne szepty” Jo MacGregor.

Ginekolog-położnik, który bawi się w Boga. Lekarz opętany marzeniem o doskonałości. Sadysta, który lubi okaleczać, lubi patrzeć, jak cierpią. Psychopata, który gotowy jest narażać kobiety na męczarnie i rozpacz, byle osiągnąć swój chory cel. Jo MacGregor wykreowała postać okrutną i bezwzględną, obsesyjnie kompulsywną, która ze skalpelem w ręku ma władzę i nie boi się nikogo. Klinika w jednym z miast RPA, przepełniony szpital w jednej z biedniejszych dzielnic, kulturowe zahamowania… To wszystko sprawia, że lekarz nawet tak zwyrodniały jak Trotteur, może panoszyć się po mieście, może pozwolić sobie na więcej. Jego czyny są niewyobrażalne, a on sam tym bardziej spotworniały, gdy kobieta nie ma innego wyboru.

Drogi Czytelniku! Droga Czytelniczko! Nie sięgaj po „Mroczne szepty”, gdy czeka Cię wizyta u ginekologa. Unikaj lektury przed jakąkolwiek poważną operacją, czy nawet nieinwazyjnym zabiegiem. Omijaj szerokim łukiem przed wizytą w służbie zdrowia, po prostu. Bo można oszaleć z nerwów. Jo MacGregor wyciągnęła na światło dzienne największe kobiece koszmary. Poruszyła tematykę związaną z molestowaniem seksualnym i psychicznym, znęcaniem się i skrajną dominacją, uprzywilejowaniem, ale także macierzyństwem, chorobami nowotworowymi, histerektomią, czyli procedurą usunięcia macicy, oraz generalnie z kobiecym ciałem i cielesnością. Nie bierze jeńców, a każdy kolejny opis zwyrodniałych czynów mrozi krew w żyłach, wywołuje dreszcze niepokoju.

Thriller medyczny na najwyższym poziomie, który zapewni niejeden wieczór pełen emocji.

[Nikiwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm generally not a fan of the thriller/suspense genre but I was drawn to this book after reading an interview with the author, Joanne Macgregor, in which she stated that the idea for the story was sparked by a news report out of Australia about a deranged gynecologist who was jailed for mutilating a patient's genitals (google "Butcher of Bega" for a full accounting of his atrocities and the failures of the system to stop him earlier). I was also piqued by the fact that this psychological thriller with a psychologist protagonist is written by a practicing psychologist. I was not disappointed by what turned out to be a gripping tale with some unexpected twists, lots of edge-of-your-seat turns and an unnerving conclusion.

From the very first page the reader is privy to the dark whispers of a very disturbed doctor who figures he "knows best" and believes it is his duty to make his patients "just perfect". Reading on, you discover he is a gynecologist who wields a scalpel in the service of rendering woman parts more perfect, and he leaves in his wake a string of patients who emerge from anesthesia mutilated and traumatized. One of these patients is in therapy with psychologist Megan Wright who is determined to uncover and stop the doctor's trail of destruction. What unfolds is a riveting cat and mouse game of wit, words and wiles between doctor and psychologist, complicated by ethics of confidentiality and made all the more suspenseful by the fact that neither knows for sure what the other one knows about the other(!). It is intense stuff made all the more shocking and disturbing because it confronts you with the reminder of just how vulnerable patients are once anesthesia kicks in and the surgeon has all the power.

This is both an entertaining and chilling read, where the author employs vivid descriptions and dialogue that is sometimes intense and sometimes witty to give the reader a peek into a therapist's room, a maternity ward, a semi-dysfunctional family gathering, the heart of a person intent on saving others, and the dark and dangerous mind of another as he unravels. Without interrupting the heightening suspense, the dark subject matter is successfully balanced with light moments, interesting details of what transpires on a therapist's couch, and colorful minor characters ( Patience the receptionist, Wade the best friend, Cayley the eating disordered sister). Get yourself a cup of chamomile tea, find a quiet spot, take a deep breathe and read this!

[Apoorva ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit: OMG i just saw this-https://youtu.be/xOyg-FfP-fQ
this is sparked off by a true story !!!! I cannot even begin to imagine a doctor like that actually exists!

If you can't trust your doctor, who can you trust?

This book made me sick!!

Last year I read Garnet McGee series by Jo Macgregor and I really liked it, so when I discovered that there's another thriller from the author, I immediately picked it up and guess what? it did not disappoint!

Plot: As you can see the blurb, Megan Wright, our protagonist, is a psychologist. One day, while performing hypnosis on one of her patient, Megan finds out that the patient (a woman) has been mutilated at the hands of a gynecologist. She starts investigating and finds out that there are more female victims whose lives were ruined by him. She decides to go to any extents to bring this man to justice.

My Thoughts: This is a faced paced psychological-thriller. The plot is intriguing, and I did not feel bored at any point. I wondered how the author explained the psychological elements with so much ease, but then I found out that when not writing, Jo Macgregor is actually a counselling psychologist in private practice in South Africa (like Megan herself).

Horror books and ghosts are not scary at all, but you wanna know what's scary? reading about a psychopath and what terrible things he did in a detail. There are few pages written from doctor's POV and it made me really uncomfortable. What he did was a worst nightmare!

There weren't any plot twists or anything and everything about the plot was pretty open, but it was very dark and creepy. I enjoyed it.

[Britt Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

...Man.

As far as thrillers go, I think this is certainly the most ~thrilling~ one I’ve read in awhile.

That said, there’s something I really need to recommend before going on. Now, I’m just one person, one reviewer, out of seven billion on this earth, so feel free to take what I’m going to say with a grain of salt. However, I do think it’s important so I’m going to mention it.

This is a dark medical thriller. The summary of this book DOES mention that the antagonist in question is a doctor — the direct line from the summary is, “When a patient in hypnosis describes an experience of mental torture and physical mutilation at the hands of a doctor...” — however... it does not mention that the SPECIFIC kind of doctor is a gynecologist.

I would really, really recommend making that specification either in the summary itself or in a disclaimer at the beginning of the book. Personally, gynecologists are very near the top of my personal list of “Top Shit That I’m Afraid Of,” and I know I’m not the only one with that specific fear. So, reading about a corrupt gyneo... I think it’s safe to say that I was Very Uncomfortable. And more than just the way that the author intended. I think it’s pretty much solidified the fact that I don’t want the fucking vajayjay doctor to touch me ever, lmfao. Or, like, knock me the fuck out first, please and thanks.

However.

I did not DNF because, despite my own personal phobia, this story was fucking incredibly written. The doctor in question was one of the ~most~ horrific villains I have ever read about in a fictional novel, and the story itself was extremely gripping. The gyneo parts made me cringe, but there’s enough beyond that that I was able to read without being too freaked out. The summary promises DARK, and it is most definitely DARK.

This book has definitely tested my personal boundaries as a reader. And, even though it definitely made me Uncomfy, I think it’s good to push your own boundaries every once in awhile.

As far as the characters go, I’ve already mentioned that the corrupt doc is one of THE most horrific villains I’ve ever read about. But Megan is also an incredible character, and really helps shape the story too. She’s a very likable, very smart narrator, and her characterization is ~excellent.~ As far as strong female characters go, she is definitely near the top of the list.

The mystery/thriller itself is definitely one of the darkest plot-lines I’ve ever read. Like, I’m talking Stephen King dark. I’ve read two books in a murder mystery/paranormal series by this author, but I think this book is easily darker than those. And, considering quite a number of her other books are contemporary YA romances, I think it DEFINITELY demonstrates her versatility as an author.

I think Joanne (or “Jo”) Macgregor is ~definitely~ a hidden gem in the literary world, and, whether you decide to give this or one of her lighter reads a go, I would DEFINITELY recommend checking her out. Whether you like lighthearted YA or dark adult thrillers, I think she’s definitely got you covered.

[Sandy Bisschoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was EXCELLENT. I read it in less than 24 hours - and I haven't done that in YEARS. I was hooked from the beginning, I started it at about 3pm on a Thursday afternoon and thought it will be a fun weekend read and then I ended up finishing it Friday morning. I have a big fear of male gynaecologists (male doctors in general really) so this book really struck a nerve - and scared the cr*p out of me. I love that it was set in South Africa, it’s incredibly scary thinking it could happen to me. If you like psychological thrillers, then this one is for you. I thought I figured out the one twist before it happened and then there was ANOTHER. Absolutely brilliant read!

[Joni Janice Mielke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark ride along twisting curves from beginning to end, Dark Whispers leaves a deep and long-lasting impression as it delves into themes of imperfection, brokenness, healing, pain and distortion where things and people are seldom all they seem. An excellent book. Read this.

[Mareli Thalwitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best medical/psychological thrillers I've read in a long time.

[Jennifer Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are few South African authors whose work I can say I really enjoy. This is only my third read by Macgregor – the other two were young adult novels. Macgregor is a skilled writer in the YA genre, and Dark Whispers is my first of her reads in the adult genre, and she is just a skilled, if not more so, writing for an adult audience.
The plot was deft and intriguing, with one big moment where I was completely caught off guard by a twist I hadn’t seen coming at all. Her protagonist, a female psychologist, pulled me in immediately – likeable, relatable, and very South African. I especially enjoyed the immersion into the world of psychology. I have a keen interest in human behavior and the reasons behind our motives and actions, and have always debated whether we are born, or made, or a bit of both. The antagonist was very deftly drawn. Although a character meant to be despised and feared, Macgregor somehow made him a figure to be pitied as well, and more than once, I felt a swell of empathy for him, despite the many despicable things he’d done. I’ve always thought a well-rounded antagonist isn’t one we, as readers, immediately hate, and root for their downfall, but more one we feel conflicting and strong emotions for, one we hate one moment, and pity the next.
Towards the end I couldn’t put the book down and found myself hunched on the edge of my couch, gnawing away at my cuticles. Although everything tied up fairly neatly, the ending was still bittersweet, and as much as I’m a fan of happy endings, I liked the way Macgregor ended her story – on a note of realism, and very much the way she started – by ejecting the reader out of her world as surely as she pulled them in.
A greatly satisfying, exciting read. A definite must for fans of psychological thrillers.

[Kimberly Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so excited I won a copy of this book from Crushing Cinders and was introduced to an exciting new author. This book hit my sweet spot--great character development and lots of intrigue. I definitely want to read more from this author.

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zawiodłam się. Ten tytuł chodził za mną miesiącami i choć początek był bardzo obiecujący, to w trakcie to napięcie zamiast wzrastać zaczęło spadać, a mi coraz trudniej było się na tym skupić i strasznie się wynudziłam. Ostatnimi czasy rzadko trafiam na thrillery medyczne, ale te, które do tej pory czytałam były po prostu lepsze...

[Frieda · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was so dark, so unexpected. Such a good story though.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book - it had a twisted centre guaranteed to terrify any woman..... or anyone who ever has surgery
However, I felt that sometimes the extensive gynecological and psychological text felt a bit like a lesson, and loosened the tension in the plot a little too much for me. In and of themselves they were interesting, well written and even had me cringing at times, but within the context of a thriller, they felt a bit laboured and unnecessary.
But I know this may just be my opinion; other readers love that kind of detail. And it didn't bother me enough to not enjoy and recommend the book, but enough to go from 4 to 3 stars.

Other sections caused me to read as fast as possible to get to what was going to happen before going back and reading the same section with enjoyment rather than nervous anticipation. I even found myself allowing my eyes to jump to the bottom of the page just to check who was still in the scene, so as to prepare myself, if necessary, for something awful.

Dark Whisper is also incredibly well researched; I do respect an author who so clearly does so much work before even putting pen to page.

I thrilled really worth reading - for me it was a two sitting book but had life not demanded attention, I would happily have read it in one go. Its pretty unputdownable

[Peter Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the reading of Agony Aunt columns in magazines, we all have an intrinsic curiosity as to what goes on in other peoples minds. Some of us wonder what people say to their therapists. Ms. Macgregor a practicing psychologist herself takes us right inside. This horror/suspense story is based on a deranged gynecologist who uses the power he has over his patients once under anesthetic to do whatever his warped mind decides. The story at the opening swings like a pendulum from the musings of the evil doctor to the interaction of the psychologist with her various clients as she slowly uncovers what is going on and seeks ways to stop the malpractice. The reader is kept updated on the progress of both camps until the inevitable clash.

The story is set credibly in South Africa with the backdrop of the various characters that make up the diverse culture of that nation. The psychologist protagonist is perhaps in need of a little therapy herself with an indifferent boyfriend and anorexic sister and an interfering mother. This makes the character a little more real and earns the sympathy of the reader.

For lovers of this genre, this is a perfect read, don't miss it.

[April Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Whispers is a compulsively readable medical thriller that's grabs on tight and never lets go until the last sentence. The fact that it's reportedly based on a true story makes it even more compelling, disturbing and squirm-inducing.

The main character, Megan, is a psychologist. She does say a few things that don't feel realistic for that profession (for example, most modern therapists don't just tell their patients "no" about their behavior; instead, they help the patient decide to say "no" for themselves), but this also helps showcase the fact that everyone has flaws. This minor quibble aside, I absolutely loved this thrill ride of a book.

Female readers should be aware that there's a lot here to be triggered by, especially if they have any history of assault. If that's not a deal breaker, then Dark Whispers is a great choice for those who enjoy medical thrillers.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love psychological thrillers and psychology, so was very eager to read this book, and to date I have never read a book of Joanne’s and disliked it, and that did not change upon reading this new book of hers. I was hooked from the get go, and being half South African, I loved the South African-isms.
Joanne wrote her characters superbly, I found myself instantly not liking two characters, and I must admit I guessed early on who was who. I loved the hypnosis story and its results! The intertwining of Megan’s personal life with that of the other protagonist was fantastic and downright scary too. That ending, just wow! I’m really not too sure I ever want to visit a hospital, specialist etc. ever again though….

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the stuff a woman's nightmares are made of. Dark Whispers is a medical thriller that will have the ladies squirming in their seats and firmly crossing their legs. The story succeeded in making me feel quite uncomfortable and squeamish, as any good thriller should. The characters had substance, the protagonist was real and relatable, and I appreciated the glimpse into what goes on behind the closed doors of a psychologists office. I enjoyed the book immensely and hope that Joanne will continue writing in this genre.

Tip: This isn't the book to read in the doctors waiting room when going for your annual check-up.

[Marietjie Steyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

'n Regte egte Suid-Afrikaanse boek, met telefoonoproepe na staatsdepartemente waar mens 'n ewigheid aanhou, groot swart vroue wat wonderlike moederfigure is, korrupte polisiemanne, verkeerskonstabels wat omkoop KFC soek en dan... 'n korrupte ginekoloog wat onnodige "verminkende" operasies op vroue doen.

En binne dit alles is die skrywer, 'n sielkundige van beroep, wat in die boek sekerlik die hoofkarakter is en verskriklike goed aanhoor in haar spreekkamer, waaroor sy nie mag praat nie.

MAAR, sy kan optree...

Uitstekend!

Een oulike aanhaling: "Tell me this, sis, if they can send a man to the moon, why can’t they send them all there?"

[Richard van Rensburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the shocking subject matter, to the believable characterisations, to the witty writing style, this novel is a gripping read. Its easy-to-read style, well-researched content and cleverly mapped out plot makes for an engaging read. The plot twists keep on coming building to the novel's shocking and unexpected climax. You cannot help but want to scream out in shock! This psychological thriller is made even more haunting due to it being inspired by real life events. Based in Johannesburg, this novel will keep you reading until the very last haunting line! Highly recommended!

[Angelique Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant read! I was blown away by the level of skill the writer has when weaving a tale. Thrillers are my genre of choice and I can easily say that this book is right up there with my favorites. Fast paced, thrilling and horrific, she kept twisting the plot with details that kept me from putting this book down! A very clever, psychologically harrowing story that has quite honestly, put me off hospitals. Wow! Fabulous! Warning: Not to be read on a stormy night when you’re home alone.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! With Jo being a psychologist by day it really gave this book an in-depth feel of what it is like to be in that position and help people. It has a fast pace and I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one day! This book is a great thriller and shows an amazing side of both helping patients and how people may not always be what they seem. It is wonderfully detailed and puts you right in the action.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story shows that you can't always take a professional at face value. Psychologist Megan Wright begins to look into the claims of one of her patients of unethical, and inhumane treatment from a doctor. This book is NOT for the faint of heart. There is some rather graphic scenes in it. Can't say you weren't warned. I would like to thank Hidden Gems for a copy of this book. I voluntarily reviewed it.

[Jenny Beuerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page, Joanne Macgregor piqued my interest and kept it through the entire book. The writing was fluid and captivating, the story interesting and relatable (well the part I had experienced. I feel Joanne captured the feelings perfectly). I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a suspenseful story.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Whispers is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will never let you think of surgery and hospitals in the same way again.

This is my first Jo Macgregor book but it certainly won't be my last!

A terrifyingly good read

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An edge of your seat thrill ride. Dark Whispers had me entranced from start to finish, I had a hard time putting this book down. A true psychological thriller that will keep you up reading to all hours!!

[Dawn Merriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jo Macgregor books

Another great book! I’ve read all Jo Macgregors books and they don’t disappoint. An interesting, twisty plot from the point of view of a psychologist. Loved the South African setting. Fun, tingling read.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark psychological thriller inspired by a true story.

[Dawn pizzalato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent creepy read

Once you get started, you can't put it down. Dark and creepy. You will always think twice about surgery and hypnosis. Highly recommend

[Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!! Loved it. Medical aspects were very real.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep, dark, and riveting to the last word!