A Whisper in the Dark

by Elizabeth Devecchi

Sarah Parker thinks she has found the perfect place for a fresh start. She's wrong...

Sarah moves her family from the Midwest to a sleepy suburban neighborhood in an idyllic southern town. Leaving a position as a serious journalist to write fluff pieces for a local paper is a compromise she is willing to make to escape the past and rebuild her family.

Ten years earlier, Ben and Mary moved to the same neighborhood in search of their own fresh start, leaving a trail of death and disfigurement in their wake. Now that cancer has taken Mary, a blossoming friendship with the Parker family offers Ben a glimpse of the things he missed out on and the child he and Mary were denied.

As he questions the sacrifices he made to be with Mary and the evil he harbored to protect her, that evil has set its sights on Sarah’s eleven-year-old son, Sam, putting the entire town in danger.

Genres: Horror, Novels

332 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2024

About the author

Elizabeth Devecchi spent her formative years in Rhode Island before setting out to gather degrees and experiences. She writes in a variety of genres and styles, but lately has focussed on horror. Her recent releases include: “Oh, Brother,” in Black Spot Books’s women in horror poetry showcase, Under Her Eye (November 2023); “Mother’s Special Bread,” in Nightmare Fueled Inc’s anthology Cooks of Horror (August 2024); “In the Belly of the Mills,” in the anthology Monsters in the Mills (August 2024); tech horror short story “A Corporate Family,” in Rabid Otter Horror anthology, Error Code (November 2024); and “Easy Pickens,” in Wicked House Publishing’s debut anthology, Wicked Universe (December 2024).
Wicked House Publishing released Elizabeth’s debut horror novel, A Whisper in the Dark, in October 2024 and is set to release A Twist of the Lens, in 2025.
Elizabeth currently resides in Colorado with her family, which includes an ever-changing menagerie of pets and “guest creatures.”

Reviews

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Whisper in the Dark – by Elizabeth Devecchi

A very creepy and enjoyable debut novel!
Sam, the 11 year old main character, has just moved to a new neighborhood…and the evil presiding there has set its sights on him.

World building and character development are very well done. I became attached to Sam, and felt like I was there with him throughout the book. This a slow-burn but well worth it!

My thanks to the author and Wicked House Publishing for the ARC copy!

[Christina Bergling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Whisper in the Dark walks the line of YA horror with a child at the center of its plot. YA horror does not always hit with me, but this one did. The story has a great pace, and I quickly became invested in the characters. It drew me in like a mature version of Goosebumps. The end gets a little clunky, and the parental characters are a bit thin (though not necessary for the story), but it is a fantastic book, and I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to more from Devecchi, hopefully a sequel!

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning creature masterpiece will have you creeped out every time you hear a whisper. Elizabeth weaves a story of small-town horror at its finest. This was beautifully written. And creepy as hell. A perfect read for the spooky season.

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Whisper in the Dark is a literary horror novel with elements of supernatural horror and character-driven coming-of-age drama. The story follows Sarah Parker and her family, who move to a quiet Southern town for a fresh start. Her eleven-year-old son, Sam, struggles to fit in, facing bullying at school. Their neighbor Ben—grieving the loss of his wife, Mary, seems to offer kindness and stability but is hiding a dark past. As Sam explores the nearby riverbanks, he begins hearing whispers from the darkness—an unseen presence coaxing him closer. The line between innocent childhood adventure and lurking evil blurs, and the Parker family becomes entangled in a fight against a monstrous force.

The horror in this story isn’t gory or nightmare-inducing but instead slow-burn, atmospheric horror. Having said that, there are very creepy descriptions of the monster—its slimy appearance, slithering body, and its ability to suddenly attack and take hold of certain characters will definitely send shivers down your spine! Fans of Stephen King’s “IT” will be delighted to know that this book has some similarities—both stories take place in small towns with dark pasts, have a “monster hiding in the sewer grate,” and focus on kids confronting evil that adults overlook or dismiss!

This book isn’t marketed as a YA novel, as it has adult themes present throughout, but 11-year-old Sam, a curious and introspective boy, is at the heart of the story, as he navigates the complexities of growing up. His experiences with bullying, an emerging crush, and a heartfelt friendship with his elderly neighbor, Ben, make him relatable and very endearing! Sam’s fascination with nature, snakes, and water creatures puts his innocence and childhood wonder on full display—and it’s a stark contrast to the malevolent creature who attempts to encroach on his life.

The creature’s manipulation of Sam, particularly its whispering a desire to be named, is both psychologically unsettling and compelling—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all unfolds!

The story is told by the alternating POVs of Sam, Sarah, and Ben. Through Sam’s POV, readers see the world with childlike curiosity and vulnerability—especially during his encounters with the “creature.” Ben’s perspective reveals the weight of his past decisions and his grief over his late wife, Mary, and provides critical backstory about the monster. Sarah’s POV adds a parental and protective layer to the narrative and shows her need for starting over and the difficulty of keeping her son safe. The alternating POVs lead readers to often know more than any single character and add tension, especially at the story’s climax.

The story has a slow-burn atmospheric start, introducing Sarah and Sam’s move to a seemingly peaceful Southern town, family dynamics, and Sam’s experiences with bullying. The pacing gradually increases, and by the final act, it becomes relentless as secrets are revealed and the supernatural threat fully emerges! The story then culminates in a high-stakes confrontation that will have readers on the edge of their seats and will leave them unsettled—it’s best to not finish this one late at night!

Overall, A Whisper in the Dark is a highly original literary horror, perfect for fans of slow-burn dread, supernatural horror, and stories that are both haunting and heartfelt. Fans of character-driven literary horror and those who love a story that’s as much about its characters and their emotional journeys as it is about the monster lurking in the dark will love this book!

[Kaylen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book through buying a blind date with a book on Tik Tok. While I do enjoy horror - it really has to be certain kind of horror and creature features are not really my thing.

This book was written well enough but at times it just felt a little choppy, disjointed and just didn’t feel very fluid throughout the read.

The idea of a monster that feeds on anger is definitely interesting and I think it would be a cool concept to flush out and explore more but something was missing in this book.

I recommend this book if you like horror.

[Kayleigh Dobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good creepy horror story (some parts of it reminded me of Locke and Key by Joe Hill). Would recommend!

[Cindy Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the ARC of Elizabeth Devecchi's A Whisper in the Dark. I was immediately drawn in and couldn't put it down. I loved the character development and felt like I was right there, watching Sam play in the stream. This small town horror novel was an excellent spooky season read!
🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕 5/5 Alvis dogs!

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a deliciously creepy read. This was my first read by Devecchi but definitely won’t be my last. In A Whisper in the Dark we have our 11yo protagonist, Sam, adjusting to life in a new place. He has a cool old neighbor but is struggling wit bullying and making friends. Throw in some malevolent beings and we’ve got our book. It’s definitely a slower burn. There’s very little action until the final third of the book. We’re given some flashbacks here and there as we connect deeper with various character but much of the beginning is focused more on characterization and world building. I love my slow burns but I can see how some readers may struggle if they prefer faster paced books with lots of action scenes and gore.

I enjoyed the characters and found them to be well dimensioned with the exception of Greg. I often forgot he was even there. I also felt that Tyler’s story is never really finished. There’s allusion to a bigger reveal but we never get to see it. I loved the siblings bond in the story. I have one of those nightmare sibling relationships where we haven’t spoken in almost two decades, but loved seeing Sam and Christina care for one another.

This was a fun creature feature. I loved the supernatural elements and found them to be a different vibe than what we normally see. I would definitely recommend this to any readers who appreciate a slower burn that culminates into a fantastically creepy ending. Despite having a younger protagonist I would NOT consider this YA, middle grade or coming of age. There’s some of those elements in the beginning but it’s definitely an adult horror novel. Fun read and I look forward to more from Devecchi in the future.

[Tambra Shultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut novel! I'll admit, it was kind of a slow burn while she set up the characters and their personalities, all important and necessary, but man, when it got going, it hit hard and fast. It reminded me of 80's/90's psych-horror movies with the setting, the characters, Alvis the dog just trying to be the goodest boy but always getting in trouble, and of course, the super mysterious, creepy monster. I really liked some of the characters, and was really annoyed by others. My favorite thing when I read is when the characters make me feel and think about them, and I had these ones on my mind when I wasn't reading.

I'm not a horror reader, and I did not plan to read this book, but I ended up really enjoying it. It was not gory for shock value, which I appreciated. I was not afraid to read at night or go to bed. It was palatable for non-horror readers, but I think would still be liked by the seasoned spooky folk.

Overall, not too shabby for a first go out of the novel gate! Definitely check it out!

[Cassondra Windwalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sheer fun. I was genuinely irritated when I had to put it down for the first time just a couple of chapters from the end...if a true horror story ever really ends. The story reads almost like a mash-up of Stranger Things and Stephen King's It, with a cast of characters spanning multiple generations. My favorite perspective was actually that of the young boy Sam, who was so realistically and sympathetically drawn that I preferred his voice even to that of characters my own age. Devecchi brings to life flawed and imperfect people struggling to overcome all the griefs and injuries and traumas that are common to humanity with just a few deft strokes, seemingly effortless in avoiding the temptation to over explain, to excuse or defend, while still giving us a glimpse of the light that burns even in the darkest souls. And of course, no review of A WHISPER IN THE DARK would be complete without a mention of Alvis, the true (and canine) hero of the tale. If you don't have a rescue dog already, you'll be looking for one of your own by the end of this book.

[Caleb Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a quite unique approach to the creature feature, electing for a slow, methodic reveal as opposed to the gore soaked fare that is much more common to the subgenre. Devecchi takes her time revealing to the author what exactly it is that is whispering in the dark, and uses the space in between wisely. While readers will definitely have their curiosity piqued and be hungry to know just what the monster is they will find the company of fully realized characters. A widower still dealing with the grief of his loss. A mother dealing with her own marital wounds while balancing her responsibilities as a working parent. A kid new to town that draws the unwanted attention of the neighborhood bully - who is also surprisingly complex. The story serves as a the skeleton to grow these characters and the author absolutely nails each of them. But, oh, that reveal. Once the monster steps into the light we find ourselves on a roller coaster ride of an ending. Better hold on tight because things get explosive!

[Mandy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

DARK. CREEPY. This book is dark and creepy but, somehow, at the same time, heartwarming. A family is new to the neighborhood, looking for a new start. Their elderly neighbor is lonely and sweet and they befriend him. The old man holds a scary secret. A horror, thriller style, slow burn creep  I don't want to give too many spoilers so I will just get to my review. This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. It is a slow burn horror book, that incorporates a creature feature vibe. The characters are easy to like, believable. The story develops easily with different POVs. Once the plot is revealed and I learned what is happening, I couldnt put it down. The only thing I would have liked to seen, was the action start a little sooner in the book! This did not detract from the story, just more of a personal preference.  The build up was spine tingling, trying to figure out what could be whispering in the dark! Check out this great read!!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The sky was an analogous color palette of blues and grays striped with clouds that masked the fading brilliance of a sun well along the latter half of its daily journey". In this novel of a boy, a mom, and an elderly neighbor we are drawn into a story of wonderfully developed scenery and characters. The neighborhood itself is a character, as important as the dog who sniffs out danger. Everyone is drawn innocently toward evil, yet all manage to deal with it in their own ways. And good wins out over evil. Or does it? My only issue with this book has to do with the publishing style. It was distracting having the first page of every chapter in reverse type on a dark page. It does, however, make the spine of the book kind of cool, if that was the intent. Looking forward to more from this author.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I received this in a horror holiday blind box from Indie Bookboxes and holy crap did it deliver, the books chosen were amazing and this was another one of them.

New to me author, which I love, because now I need more 😂👀.

Where do I start, Sarah with a troubled past, has to move to a small, normal seeming town?
Nope, I know these towns and we are all about to be fucked I KNEW IT.

Folks, I gotta stop knowing stuff, because I was not correct 😂.
I don't want to say what the actual evil was but damn, it was dark, and hauntingly terrifying.

This was a slow burn, but worth every single emotionally damming, slow, tension building chapter, when it ripped everything apart and ruined you, or me in this case.

This had me invested in the characters, and screaming a long with some of them.

Excellant story Elizabeth

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love creature horror novels and this was a great one. I will warn you that it is a slow burn, but the worldbuilding will make more sense if you stick with it. Sam was an easy character to cheer for. Bonus points for him being into reptiles and frogs like me, hehe. Ben was my favorite character. An old man with plenty of mystery surrounding him.

Once I got halfway through, I couldn't stop reading. I can't spoil the ending, but all I can say is that there is much more to the mysterious creature known as 'whisper'. The past comes back to haunt this peaceful suburban neighborhood.

This is a creature horror story that combines the horror of creatures with the supernatural/paranormal. Overall, a great read once you get past the slow beginning, but pay attention as events from the beginning will connect toward the end. I enjoyed this one!

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a HUGE disappointed read. What starts out as an extremely SLOW burn of a story, I had some hope that it was going to be creepy. At a little over 50% of this audiobook and you witness the first of a somewhat creepy scene does not happen again......for a LONGGG time after this first one. The story of the old neighbor man; Mr. Thompson and Sam could have been a very good one, though as we meet them both in their own weird little worlds the book takes a BAD turn down into the lair of the title character Whisper. And WHAT a horrible reveal and let down. I realize that this was Devecchio's debut novel but so were so many other books in author's careers.....this one just ended up being a very dumb one. Cannot recommend it, unless you are a reader within the ages of 8 and 13 maybe. Skip it.

2 big SO WHAT's

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one thing that stuck out the most in this book is the idea there are hiding just waiting for the moment to take over a human host. This absolutely terrifies me. I have never recovered from the very first Alien movie. Of course I was about 11 years old and I had to jump from my bed to the floor to get to the bathroom. And in this book, Sam is about 11 and has way more bravery than I did. Yet, the creature knew that children are much easier to connect with than adults. I was really glad that Sam had plenty of support in his life to give him clarity about such things. I was convinced the creature was going to get Sam. Now that I am finished with this book. I will have to try and evict this story from my brain.

[C.A. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, A Whisper in the Dark is the kind of horror story that sneaks up on you—like that feeling when the house settles at night, and suddenly you’re questioning every shadow. Sarah’s attempt at a fresh start? Admirable. Ben’s backstory? Absolutely unnerving. And the growing tension? Deliciously unsettling.

This book is like moving into a seemingly peaceful neighborhood only to realize the house next door has some deeply disturbing history. It serves up psychological suspense with a side of creeping horror, making you want to check the locks twice. And let’s talk about that villain—because morally gray doesn’t even begin to cover it. If you enjoy stories where the past refuses to stay buried and the stakes just keep rising, you’re in for a wild ride.

[Mickey Tompkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a family new in town, a widowed neighbor across the street with a secret past, and a brother looking for revenge.

I liked the storyline of the neighbor, the new family and the bully terrorizing the main protagonist.

However I felt the meat & potatoes of the story took too long to get there. It was a bit confusing where it was going, once I found out that this was a creature feature, and the story behind the creature it was well over 200 pages and 75% finished.

If the author would have sped the creature part up a bit I may have enjoyed this more, because I did care for the characters, and the story, it just took too long to get there for me.

[Indiana Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Again, I go into most books blind and this was no exception. The story was great, I really fell in love with the characters. I was also very intrigued in the beginning by the mysteriousness of the plot. The only pointer I would have is that the author tended to be a little too specific in describing mundane actions the characters performed. I feel like if the descriptions of non-essential actions were a bit more simple, I would have been more able to truly lose myself in the story. Otherwise, a truly thrilling read! I will be looking out for more from this author!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a book box I ordered and knew nothing about it or the author. The synopsis sounded intriguing, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was very well written.
Although I’m not really a fan of slow burning storytelling, I am appreciative of the character dynamics. I could really connect with certain characters. (Everyone needs an Alvis).
I think certain scenes were a little drawn out, and maybe unnecessary, but that’s just my opinion.
I look forward to checking out Devecchi’s future work.

[Belinda Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so Spoilers.

All I kept thinking while reading this was of Venom from Spiderman and that I want one too.

I enjoyed the book, took me a while to get into it because there was a lot of building that wasn't needed. What I wanted was MORE about Mary's story. WHY did she take this creature in and WHAT happened to her! Even more about Sarah and why she moved her family there would have been nice. I understand the hints at an "affair" but Will has maybe 5 lines in the while book. We want more.

That's all.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t really sure what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s very well-written, with fleshed out characters and a great creature. I do wish there was some closure on several storylines, like the back story of Sam and his family and what happens to Tyler. I feel like a lot was hinted at with why Sam’s family had to move, but we never get the story. Still, a very enjoyable slow burn, and I’ll definitely read more by this author!

[Andrew Najberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Some readers will view it as a slow burn as it is a character-centric creature horror, but it's well handled, creating characters you care about, building a steady suspense as their paths begin to converge. The creature itself is a really interesting invention that I found really intriguing, and throughout, Devecchi tells her story with crisp, clear prose that conveys a vivid and immersive experience.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's lots to love in this book. The characters are well-developed and relatable. The story hooks you from the beginning with little tidbits that intrigue and make you want to keep reading to learn more. Things move along at a pretty good clip, keeping you hooked and invested. And I enjoyed the uniqueness of the evil that is mentioned in the synopsis. I look forward to reading more from this author!

[Brittnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliantly creepy, slow burn, small town creature feature! I absolutely loved the main characters and how well you really get to know them. I love how the plot is truly built and developed on strong, dynamic characters. I also love how much of a character Alvis the rescue dog is. And talk about a phenomenal ending!

[Leigh Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, chilling, and ominous. I love stories that mix in children and animals with some sort of sixth sense. Secrets are hiding all around us, some are just too busy to see them. This was not my typical read but I surprisingly found myself enjoying the clean writing style. This could easily fall into the YA Horror category.

[Cassandra O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With its engrossing plot and carefully drawn characters, A WHISPER IN THE DARK had me on the edge of my seat needing to know how everything turned out. I enjoyed how multi-dimensional the characters were; just as in real life, they had complex emotions and were flawed but relatable.

[Heather Childrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The character development was amazing and the scares kept me at the edge of my seat. I had a hard time putting it down.

With this being Elizabeth Devecchi's debut novel I cannot wait til her next one!

[Jennifer Hewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read. The character build up throughout was fascinating. And the creature? I wouldn’t want to come across it in the real world. Some of the quirky stuff Alvis does reminded me of my own pups.