The Girl in the Whispers

by David K. Wilson

What you hear in the dark could haunt you forever.

Catherine Devereux, still emotionally and mentally fragile after the sudden death of her young daughter, reluctantly accompanies her husband to his family’s crumbling Louisiana estate. Soon, she starts to hear troubling whispers, and Catherine fears she may be having another breakdown. But when the whispers escalate into ghostly visions of a little girl, Catherine's need to hold on to her sanity is outweighed by the desperate hope of reconnecting with her deceased daughter.

With the help of Delphine, the estate’s housekeeper, Catherine attempts to seek out the child spirit while trying to avoid suspicion from her over-protective husband and his bitter, secretive father. To her horror, the hauntings begin to reveal a terrifying revelation that could tear the family apart.

But can Catherine trust her senses? Or is she descending into madness?

The Girl in the Whispers is a haunting psychological thriller by David K. Wilson. If you enjoy chilling stories with unexpected twists, then you’ll be captivated by this gripping tale of grief, guilt, and ghosts.

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2024

About the author

David K. Wilson grew up in East Texas, surrounded by enough colorful characters to fill the pages of hundreds of books. He has been an advertising copywriter and creative director, and is probably responsible for some of the junk mail you've received over the years.

He is also a seasoned ghostwriter and screenwriter. Currently, he lives in upstate New York, where he still complains about the cold every single winter.

Reviews

[Jessica Mangano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of this book, and I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed it.

As with all of David K. Wilson's books, this was a read in one sitting, can't put it down book.

Through his words, I could picture every setting, feel every feeling as if I were the main character.

[Ann Marie Piche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved a good ghost story, and David K. Wilson’s new psychological thriller did not disappoint. “The Girl In The Whispers” immediately starts with Catherine Devereux, a grieving mother who thinks she sees and hears her dead daughter. The ghostly encounters become more intense as the mysterious aberrations escalate. I love how the author captured Catherine’s emotion as she navigates heartbreak and the hauntings of a little girl desperate to get her attention. I highly recommend this gripping story, which will leave you utterly shocked at the end.

[Ilyana Guinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story although heartbreaking, it’s filled with mystery and paranormal activity keeping you on edge. You are constantly thinking wether or not all the supernatural things occurring is due to past trauma, a mear reflection of it or if it’s actually happening. There’s a good few plot twist. A page turner for sure and a really good short quick read.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

David K. Wilson’s The Girl in the Whispers is a haunting exploration of grief, sanity, and the supernatural, centering on a mother’s desperate fight against forces both seen and unseen. Catherine Devereux, still reeling from the devastating loss of her young daughter, reluctantly follows her husband to his family’s crumbling estate in Louisiana. Once there, her fragile emotional state is shaken even further as she begins hearing whispers and seeing the unsettling apparition of a little girl. These ghostly encounters blur the line between reality and madness, forcing Catherine to question her own mind. Seeking refuge in Delphine, the enigmatic housekeeper, she finds herself drawn deeper into the estate’s sinister past, uncovering dark secrets that make her question everything she knows.

Wilson masterfully blends psychological suspense with supernatural mystery, drawing readers into Catherine's escalating paranoia. Her unraveling sense of reality is depicted with a skillful touch, immersing the reader in her growing fear and confusion. The eerie presence of the ghostly girl not only heightens the tension but also adds a profound layer to Catherine’s grief, creating a chilling atmosphere that lingers throughout the novel. One of the novel’s strongest elements is how Wilson navigates different genres. At its core, this is a ghost story, but the author ingeniously incorporates aspects of a police procedural without disrupting the supernatural tension. This fusion of elements gives the story an unexpected complexity as the investigation into the hauntings unfolds alongside Catherine's psychological descent. Wilson manages this delicate balance with remarkable precision, keeping both the eerie and investigative aspects of the plot tightly intertwined. Despite its many strengths, there are moments where the pacing falters. Some plotlines, particularly those revolving around the family dynamics, feel underdeveloped and could have been given more attention to add depth to the emotional landscape. These instances, however, do not significantly detract from the overall impact of the story.

In The Girl in the Whispers, Wilson delivers an emotionally charged and suspenseful thriller, weaving together psychological tension and ghostly mystery with finesse. It is a compelling read that will keep readers captivated until the very last page.

[David Brakebill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of disclosures before I review: I grew up with the author in east Texas (although he is "significantly" older than me (LOL he's going to love that). I also paid full price for my copy of the book (so it's not like he's paying me to review it or anything)> Second: I've only read a handful of his other books. All that being said: David Wilson's latest "The Girl In The Whispers" was for me a very slow to get started book. Mostly because it was so "dark" which I did not expect (after having read some of his Sam Lawson, and Red Dirt Blues) and that made it hard for me to get into it. Honestly, I got about halfway through and put it down, thinking there was no way I'd finish it. But one night, with nothing else to read, I picked it back up.....and I'm glad I did! I was off the races, and finished the book that same night! Once things start happening the writing is spectacular.
4/5 because I could have just never finished it and never known how good it was.....but I gave it a chance and it paid off.

[Lorraine Evanoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an instant classic. I couldn’t put it down, and when I had to, I couldn’t wait to pick it up again. Having read everything David K. Wilson has written, including all seven of the Sam Lawson novels, I can attest that he has honed his craft as a seasoned mystery writer. Now he’s launched brilliantly into the psychological thriller genre.

This whole book was transcendent, like a spiritual hug that spoke to me on so many levels. I don’t know how Wilson does it, but he understands the Yin and the Yang of our psyches. The most amazing part of this novel is how Wilson nestled a solid police procedural within this haunting murder mystery without ever feeling like a police procedural. Throw in a great ghost story and I was hooked!

From beginning to end this is the perfect novel. I hope this book receives the highest accolades and becomes a best seller so that David Wilson gets the recognition he deserves.

[Jacqueline Boulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect from David Wilson's psychological thriller because it's so different from his other books. He crafted a solid story with some big twists at the end and realistic characters whose pain was palatable. The last twist was a bonus! It's definitely worth a read and short enough to accomplish in one sitting, which is good, because you can't wait to find out who did it and why.

[Jenn Nucifora Maroney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had chills and twists, which I really enjoyed, but it was the way the author captured the grief that Catherine was going through that hit home for me. He did an incredible job of portraying this grieving mother in an honest and respectful manner. As someone who is currently dealing with grief, I appreciated this most of all.