What do you think?
The Whisperings
Burn Our Bodies Down meets Delicious Monsters in this terrifying new young adult horror by acclaimed master of the macabre Joel A. Sutherland.
Joana and her younger brother Peter aren't used to setting down roots. Ever since the violent murder of their mother, their father can't stay in one place for long, haunted by the literal ghosts of the past. He has what he calls "the Whisperings," and will do anything to protect his children from the horrors that torment him.
When the family moves to Burlington, Vermont, Joana thinks they've finally found a place to call home. They rent the lower half of a creepy yet comfortable mansion downtown, and Joana actually begins to fit in at school, thanks in part to Willem, a handsome (and single) classmate.
But a near-death experience awakens the Whisperings in Joana, and she soon realizes her family isn't the only family living in the house. She meets the Keils — ghosts forced to relive their own gruesome murders every night. As they say, misery loves company . . . and suddenly, Joana is forced to protect the ones closest to her from a supernatural threat, in this horrifying haunted house story for teen readers.
Joana and her younger brother Peter aren't used to setting down roots. Ever since the violent murder of their mother, their father can't stay in one place for long, haunted by the literal ghosts of the past. He has what he calls "the Whisperings," and will do anything to protect his children from the horrors that torment him.
When the family moves to Burlington, Vermont, Joana thinks they've finally found a place to call home. They rent the lower half of a creepy yet comfortable mansion downtown, and Joana actually begins to fit in at school, thanks in part to Willem, a handsome (and single) classmate.
But a near-death experience awakens the Whisperings in Joana, and she soon realizes her family isn't the only family living in the house. She meets the Keils — ghosts forced to relive their own gruesome murders every night. As they say, misery loves company . . . and suddenly, Joana is forced to protect the ones closest to her from a supernatural threat, in this horrifying haunted house story for teen readers.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 5, 2025
About the author
Joel A. Sutherland
41 books135 followersJoel A. Sutherland is the Silver Birch and Hackmatack Award-winning author of Be a Writing Superstar, numerous books in the Haunted Canada series, and Summer's End. His new series, Haunted, including The House Next Door, Kill Screen, Night of the Living Dolls and Field of Screams, has been praised by Goosebumps author R.L. Stine. Joel's short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and magazines, including Blood Lite II & III (Pocket Books) and Cemetery Dance Magazine, alongside the likes of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman.
He is a two-time juror for the Bram Stoker Award, the John Spray Mystery Award, and the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy. He is also the founder of the DarkLit Fest, a literary event that has welcomed Guests of Honour Kelley Armstrong and Joy Fielding.
Joel appeared as "The Barbarian Librarian" on the Canadian edition of the hit television show Wipeout, making it all the way to the third round and proving that librarians can be just as tough and crazy as anyone else. He has a Masters of Information and Library Studies from Aberystwyth University in Wales and lives in southeastern Ontario with his family, where he is always on the lookout for ghosts.
He is a two-time juror for the Bram Stoker Award, the John Spray Mystery Award, and the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy. He is also the founder of the DarkLit Fest, a literary event that has welcomed Guests of Honour Kelley Armstrong and Joy Fielding.
Joel appeared as "The Barbarian Librarian" on the Canadian edition of the hit television show Wipeout, making it all the way to the third round and proving that librarians can be just as tough and crazy as anyone else. He has a Masters of Information and Library Studies from Aberystwyth University in Wales and lives in southeastern Ontario with his family, where he is always on the lookout for ghosts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 22, 2025
2.5 stars. The Whisperings is a supernatural YA horror that delivers plenty of eerie moments and a few genuinely unsettling scenes. It was VERY gory and disturbing in parts, to a shocking extent, especially for a YA book. Readers who aren’t easily rattled are more likely to enjoy this one.
The storytelling had a few drawbacks that prevented me from rating it higher. The main character, Jo, often says that she “needs” or “has” to do something without actual rationale backing it up within the story. As a reader, that’s frustrating to encounter, because I didn’t feel like she was taking action because it made sense for her character, I felt like she was taking action because it was more convenient for where the author wanted the story to go. This may not bother other YA readers as much as it bothered me. I also found some of the final twists and the ending itself unsatisfying.
While I didn’t personally enjoy this book as much as I would’ve hoped, here’s who I think would be most likely to enjoy The Whisperings:
- If you enjoy listening to true crime podcasts and eagerly eat up all the gory details
- If you also enjoy ghost centric stories
- If you’re more interested in the horror of what humans are capable of than psychological horror
- If you’re looking for a YA horror book with a writing style that feels like a cross between Josh Malerman (especially Incidents Around the House) and R.L. Stine
Thanks to the publisher, Tundra Books, who sent me a physical copy to read and review.
The storytelling had a few drawbacks that prevented me from rating it higher. The main character, Jo, often says that she “needs” or “has” to do something without actual rationale backing it up within the story. As a reader, that’s frustrating to encounter, because I didn’t feel like she was taking action because it made sense for her character, I felt like she was taking action because it was more convenient for where the author wanted the story to go. This may not bother other YA readers as much as it bothered me. I also found some of the final twists and the ending itself unsatisfying.
While I didn’t personally enjoy this book as much as I would’ve hoped, here’s who I think would be most likely to enjoy The Whisperings:
- If you enjoy listening to true crime podcasts and eagerly eat up all the gory details
- If you also enjoy ghost centric stories
- If you’re more interested in the horror of what humans are capable of than psychological horror
- If you’re looking for a YA horror book with a writing style that feels like a cross between Josh Malerman (especially Incidents Around the House) and R.L. Stine
Thanks to the publisher, Tundra Books, who sent me a physical copy to read and review.
July 21, 2025
Ok, here’s the thing. I enjoyed this book a lot. But some parts were so unrealistic I couldn’t overlook it (I explain more on this later in the review). I started out enjoying this but after it got bogged down with unrealistic details, that did sap a lot of my future enjoyment of this book. If you can overlook all those details though, this is still a really fun read 🤷🏻♀️
Joanna is used to living on the run basically, because every 6 months or so, her father has them pack and they flee into the night. Apparently he is running from something called “the whisperings” which is something only he can hear, and when the voices in his head start to threaten his family, their family runs off into the night without fail. It’s a pattern that has been going on since she was four and one she’s well used to by now.
This latest place they flee to is Vermont, where they stay in the basement of a creepy old Victorian mansion, rented from an even creepier old lady, also where a homicide took place. It’s clear before their first night there that the house is very obviously haunted, but for some reason, they all still decide to stay lol.
This book may be YA, but some of the scenes are genuinely shocking. The flashback sequence where you find out what happened to Joanna’s mom, GEEZ. I was actually speechless. Word of warning though, this may be YA but the horror imagery is intense and far more graphic than I was expecting. Some parts of this are genuinely horrific. This book pushes its boundaries more than I was expecting it to.
Ok, now I gotta be a little critical. Yes this is fiction, but my pet peeve in books is when something is TOO unrealistic. Joanna has an accident in one scene and has to stay in a hospital, and is discharged 2 days after her accident. Because of their financial situation and them not having insurance, the hospital OFFERED FREE CARE. I’m sorry but suspension of disbelief can only go so far. A 2 day stay at the hospital without insurance can easily be around 45k on average depending, and you’re telling me the hospital waived that out of the kindness of their hearts? In America? 😭
It wasn’t even acknowledged how rare this would be. It’s just brushed off like a side note in two quick sentences like it’s no big deal, like “oh I left the hospital 2 days later, good thing the hospital offered us free care!” then moves on like, problem solved! Things just fell into place way too easily.
Another thing. And this ties back to the, huge things being described in one quick sentence then brushed off like no big deal, thing. The writing would frequently gloss over huge things and make them feel like an afterthought, like for example, it would take 1 sentence to explain her telling whole graphic red room scene to her family as if it’s no big deal and no one is even shocked that she saw something so supernatural and traumatizing. They’re just like, ok.
Or when her dad telling her brother that he sees ghosts that tell him to kill his family and that’s why they flee into the night so much, and the brother just goes, ok, like it’s nothing 😭
Or when she tells her friend that the house is haunted. He legit just goes ok, I believe you no questions asked. Then changes the subject. And later when she tells him a dead girl is behind him that he can’t see, he acts accordingly shocked and completely believes her, no question.
The best way I can describe this book is that it’s written in the same writing style as fanfiction. Where it’s very plot driven and YES THE PLOT IS EXCELLENT but the style of writing is unrealistic and too convenient. Things don’t just happen to work out that easily in real life.
But, if you think you can overlook these things (which it was hard for me cuz that’s just the kind of reader I am), then this stuff prob wouldn’t bug you as much as it did me. So I would still give this a try. The parts of the book I enjoyed were not blind to me either and I can appreciate that too. I just sort of lost motivation after things started to be overly unrealistic because I’m just not the kind of reader who can overlook that kind of stuff. But, some of the horror imagery was great. This book was genuinely grotesque and horrifying. Great imagery. The ending was so gripping and intense that I decided to round this up to 3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Joanna is used to living on the run basically, because every 6 months or so, her father has them pack and they flee into the night. Apparently he is running from something called “the whisperings” which is something only he can hear, and when the voices in his head start to threaten his family, their family runs off into the night without fail. It’s a pattern that has been going on since she was four and one she’s well used to by now.
This latest place they flee to is Vermont, where they stay in the basement of a creepy old Victorian mansion, rented from an even creepier old lady, also where a homicide took place. It’s clear before their first night there that the house is very obviously haunted, but for some reason, they all still decide to stay lol.
This book may be YA, but some of the scenes are genuinely shocking. The flashback sequence where you find out what happened to Joanna’s mom, GEEZ. I was actually speechless. Word of warning though, this may be YA but the horror imagery is intense and far more graphic than I was expecting. Some parts of this are genuinely horrific. This book pushes its boundaries more than I was expecting it to.
Ok, now I gotta be a little critical. Yes this is fiction, but my pet peeve in books is when something is TOO unrealistic. Joanna has an accident in one scene and has to stay in a hospital, and is discharged 2 days after her accident. Because of their financial situation and them not having insurance, the hospital OFFERED FREE CARE. I’m sorry but suspension of disbelief can only go so far. A 2 day stay at the hospital without insurance can easily be around 45k on average depending, and you’re telling me the hospital waived that out of the kindness of their hearts? In America? 😭
It wasn’t even acknowledged how rare this would be. It’s just brushed off like a side note in two quick sentences like it’s no big deal, like “oh I left the hospital 2 days later, good thing the hospital offered us free care!” then moves on like, problem solved! Things just fell into place way too easily.
Another thing. And this ties back to the, huge things being described in one quick sentence then brushed off like no big deal, thing. The writing would frequently gloss over huge things and make them feel like an afterthought, like for example, it would take 1 sentence to explain her telling whole graphic red room scene to her family as if it’s no big deal and no one is even shocked that she saw something so supernatural and traumatizing. They’re just like, ok.
Or when her dad telling her brother that he sees ghosts that tell him to kill his family and that’s why they flee into the night so much, and the brother just goes, ok, like it’s nothing 😭
Or when she tells her friend that the house is haunted. He legit just goes ok, I believe you no questions asked. Then changes the subject. And later when she tells him a dead girl is behind him that he can’t see, he acts accordingly shocked and completely believes her, no question.
The best way I can describe this book is that it’s written in the same writing style as fanfiction. Where it’s very plot driven and YES THE PLOT IS EXCELLENT but the style of writing is unrealistic and too convenient. Things don’t just happen to work out that easily in real life.
But, if you think you can overlook these things (which it was hard for me cuz that’s just the kind of reader I am), then this stuff prob wouldn’t bug you as much as it did me. So I would still give this a try. The parts of the book I enjoyed were not blind to me either and I can appreciate that too. I just sort of lost motivation after things started to be overly unrealistic because I’m just not the kind of reader who can overlook that kind of stuff. But, some of the horror imagery was great. This book was genuinely grotesque and horrifying. Great imagery. The ending was so gripping and intense that I decided to round this up to 3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
August 29, 2026
4.5/5
Rounded down for (awkward) swearing*
* and I would have rounded up if it was more natural
This was a fun one! Sutherland keeps pacing tight and tension steady throughout the entire book, it was impressive! He keeps Jo (Joana) in constant unease, fear, and/or stress right from the start, there's no there's no slow build up that takes 50 pages to start. (This whispers in the first 15 pages and gets louder from page 16—the beginning of Chapter 2)
My only issue with this story was the cringey swearing. I swear a lot, I'm not against swearing in YA but it felt like Jo swore to be cool/edgy, although she did swear naturally when she was frightened or in scary situations, it was just the times outside those that felt forced.
However, I loved how Sutherland handled the relationship between Jo and Willem! I loved the nickname he gives her and their flirty banter. I liked how he portrayed a lot of the characters and their relationships (Peter and his dad re: Petey, Jo and her love for Peter, Triss and Jo). I loved Triss too! Sutherland could have easily made her over the top and unbearable (she is in the authentic high school ways) but he rides the perfect line of rival and stuck up. I loved their fued, I loved the pettiness, and I loved their ambition! This story has great characters!
Sutherland doesn't skimp on the gore. There's some pretty intense scenes that'll make your skin crawl. It's perfect nightmare fuel. I presume he has a massive log of supernatural horror to pull from from his work on Haunted Canads and I loved it. If this was a movie, I wouldn't watch it for how gory it is.
This book is great! I think it's perfect for those who want tense, fast paced horror stories and aren't afraid of graphic injuries. I would happily read more of his books and I look forward to it! I hope others enjoy this haunted house and haunted family!
I got this from my local library but I would totally buy it for my personal collection! Check if your local library has a copy and request it or request that they buy it!! I hope you love it!
Rounded down for (awkward) swearing*
* and I would have rounded up if it was more natural
This was a fun one! Sutherland keeps pacing tight and tension steady throughout the entire book, it was impressive! He keeps Jo (Joana) in constant unease, fear, and/or stress right from the start, there's no there's no slow build up that takes 50 pages to start. (This whispers in the first 15 pages and gets louder from page 16—the beginning of Chapter 2)
My only issue with this story was the cringey swearing. I swear a lot, I'm not against swearing in YA but it felt like Jo swore to be cool/edgy, although she did swear naturally when she was frightened or in scary situations, it was just the times outside those that felt forced.
However, I loved how Sutherland handled the relationship between Jo and Willem! I loved the nickname he gives her and their flirty banter. I liked how he portrayed a lot of the characters and their relationships (Peter and his dad re: Petey, Jo and her love for Peter, Triss and Jo). I loved Triss too! Sutherland could have easily made her over the top and unbearable (she is in the authentic high school ways) but he rides the perfect line of rival and stuck up. I loved their fued, I loved the pettiness, and I loved their ambition! This story has great characters!
Sutherland doesn't skimp on the gore. There's some pretty intense scenes that'll make your skin crawl. It's perfect nightmare fuel. I presume he has a massive log of supernatural horror to pull from from his work on Haunted Canads and I loved it. If this was a movie, I wouldn't watch it for how gory it is.
This book is great! I think it's perfect for those who want tense, fast paced horror stories and aren't afraid of graphic injuries. I would happily read more of his books and I look forward to it! I hope others enjoy this haunted house and haunted family!
I got this from my local library but I would totally buy it for my personal collection! Check if your local library has a copy and request it or request that they buy it!! I hope you love it!
September 3, 2026
Only reason i read this was bcuz my friend and i made a deal (plus she NEVER reads books and she gave this a 4.5 so i was curious. shoutout to mina)
I usually never read books by male authors just bcuz i dont like the style of writing, etc etc and i can see this in The Whisperings. At first, the writing was CRINGE. i was literally DYING for the first 100ish pg. And to say the least, his writing is not YA - in terms of the gore i mean. I srcly dont mind gory things too much but some details made me flinch and shiver. if ur sensitive to these things, i highly advise u to not read this.
It's basically cringy in the day and gory and interesting at night. but it got RLLY interesting in the 70%-90% mark. SO MUCH ACTION AND SUSPENSE i loved it. the plot twist was good, nth crazy.
The ending wasn't as satisfactory as i wanted it to be tho. a few loose ends but in the author's note, Sutherland says its his way of ending a book🤷♀️
One thing is for sure tho: The Whisperings is def one of the scariest books ive read
3.25⭐
I usually never read books by male authors just bcuz i dont like the style of writing, etc etc and i can see this in The Whisperings. At first, the writing was CRINGE. i was literally DYING for the first 100ish pg. And to say the least, his writing is not YA - in terms of the gore i mean. I srcly dont mind gory things too much but some details made me flinch and shiver. if ur sensitive to these things, i highly advise u to not read this.
It's basically cringy in the day and gory and interesting at night. but it got RLLY interesting in the 70%-90% mark. SO MUCH ACTION AND SUSPENSE i loved it. the plot twist was good, nth crazy.
The ending wasn't as satisfactory as i wanted it to be tho. a few loose ends but in the author's note, Sutherland says its his way of ending a book🤷♀️
One thing is for sure tho: The Whisperings is def one of the scariest books ive read
3.25⭐
November 3, 2025
her nickname was pumpkin spice
gore
gore
September 28, 2025
It was fun to listen to but reminded me of one of those cheesy Disney Cinderella story movies like the one with Lucy Hale or the one with Hilary Duff. Like not plot wise but definitely with the way the characters interacted with each other. Respectfully ofc
Want to Read
November 19, 2024"Burn Our Bodies Down meets Delicious Monsters in this terrifying new young adult horror"
i read 'haunted house', i'm in
i read 'haunted house', i'm in
August 26, 2025
This was a deliciously creepy haunted house YA horror story that involved murder ghosts, killer bugs and so much more!! It was great on audio, told from the POV of the family's oldest daughter as their father can hear voices ("whisperings") and constantly moves them across the country trying to escape from them. When they move into a haunted house the family start seeing the ghosts of the family who died there plus tons of creepy bugs!! Perfect for fans of We used to live here, Joel A. Sutherland really delivered on this #SpookySeason read!!
June 18, 2025
FREAKING FANTASTIC!
Review will be posted soon by School Library Journal. I'm submitting to be a starred review. Excellent horror!
Review will be posted soon by School Library Journal. I'm submitting to be a starred review. Excellent horror!
December 26, 2025
3.75 Stars
What an interesting contradiction of being young adult with visually gruesome gore. Grabs your attention. There was a lot to like in this creepy novel but it has points that feel too juvenile.
Good read.
What an interesting contradiction of being young adult with visually gruesome gore. Grabs your attention. There was a lot to like in this creepy novel but it has points that feel too juvenile.
Good read.
June 21, 2025
This was my very first time reading Joel A. Sutherland, and I have to thank my son for the recommendation because The Whisperings was such a thrilling surprise! Horror isn’t a genre I usually gravitate toward, but this book completely pulled me in. It felt less like reading and more like watching a movie unfold in real life. I would literally grab my popcorn, settle in with my Kobo, and get swept away by the suspense.
The writing is vivid, the pacing tight, and the atmosphere perfectly eerie. I could picture every scene clearly, and the tension kept me flipping pages. I also really enjoyed the characters as they felt real and grounded, which made the stakes feel even higher.
There were a few moments where the plot became a bit predictable, but overall, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the experience. As a first introduction to this author, The Whisperings definitely left an impression. I’ll be checking out more of Joel A. Sutherland’s work for sure!
Highly recommend if you’re new to horror or just looking for a chilling, immersive read.
Thank you Net Galley.
The writing is vivid, the pacing tight, and the atmosphere perfectly eerie. I could picture every scene clearly, and the tension kept me flipping pages. I also really enjoyed the characters as they felt real and grounded, which made the stakes feel even higher.
There were a few moments where the plot became a bit predictable, but overall, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the experience. As a first introduction to this author, The Whisperings definitely left an impression. I’ll be checking out more of Joel A. Sutherland’s work for sure!
Highly recommend if you’re new to horror or just looking for a chilling, immersive read.
Thank you Net Galley.
August 8, 2025
4.5 I liked this one a lot. A family has to move around after the mother dies violently, and the kids do what they can to help their father, although they wish to settle and call a place home. The opportunity appears, and they rent part of a house (the most haunted looking Victorian house ever). The father helps to restore the house as agreed, and the kids finally can go to the local school making connections.
The narrative focuses on the Pov on the older kid. She is 17, and she starts seeing and hearing ghosts. This haunted house story is very descriptive, vivid, with gore images, well detailed, and great YA horror.
semi spoilers regarding the end. stop reading here
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Regarding the end. I didn't like one little aspect, I think the author could have found a better way to limit the main character from keeping a promise. The one used didn't convince me. But it led to a plot twist creepier ending. I liked the conclusion, but the argument was weak. In her place, I would have found a better way to keep my word and not disturb the new family.
The narrative focuses on the Pov on the older kid. She is 17, and she starts seeing and hearing ghosts. This haunted house story is very descriptive, vivid, with gore images, well detailed, and great YA horror.
semi spoilers regarding the end. stop reading here
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Regarding the end. I didn't like one little aspect, I think the author could have found a better way to limit the main character from keeping a promise. The one used didn't convince me. But it led to a plot twist creepier ending. I liked the conclusion, but the argument was weak. In her place, I would have found a better way to keep my word and not disturb the new family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2025
4/5
Wow, this book is one of the prime examples of how I can stomach stuff more in the written form than film. It was perfectly eerie and mysterious while still focusing on the FMC. Though the book wasn’t romance driven I enjoyed the side plot that was there with Willem, though I will say, I wish he had a slightly bigger role. The Keils were absolutely haunting (no pun intended), their mystery was such a page turner and I found myself theorizing what could have happened. When I noticed why the cover was significant as well my jaw was on the floor.
Wow, this book is one of the prime examples of how I can stomach stuff more in the written form than film. It was perfectly eerie and mysterious while still focusing on the FMC. Though the book wasn’t romance driven I enjoyed the side plot that was there with Willem, though I will say, I wish he had a slightly bigger role. The Keils were absolutely haunting (no pun intended), their mystery was such a page turner and I found myself theorizing what could have happened. When I noticed why the cover was significant as well my jaw was on the floor.
September 14, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ / Audiobook 🎧
This was such a crazy ride! Poor Jo is really going through it! She was so incredibly brave and resilient despite everything that was going on with her family and her past.
There were so many twists and turns I could never predict what was coming next.
This was such a crazy ride! Poor Jo is really going through it! She was so incredibly brave and resilient despite everything that was going on with her family and her past.
There were so many twists and turns I could never predict what was coming next.
August 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for allowing me an EARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was originally pulled to this title from the cover art, but this book was spooky! It honestly gave big Coraline vibes, but more gore & more disturbing. Minus one star because some of the scenes written between the teens were more childish than YA.
I was originally pulled to this title from the cover art, but this book was spooky! It honestly gave big Coraline vibes, but more gore & more disturbing. Minus one star because some of the scenes written between the teens were more childish than YA.
August 12, 2025
Joel! This book! How horrific…but in a fabulous way!
** Appropriate for an older teenager/young adult but not necessarily for children under the age of 16. **
** Appropriate for an older teenager/young adult but not necessarily for children under the age of 16. **
July 1, 2026
Reader Beware: This fast-paced Young Adult novel contains several graphic, disturbing scenes of indescribable gore and violence. Actually, I shouldn’t say “indescribable” because it’s Sutherland’s sensory play-by-plays that push it over the edge into the HORROR realm, giving Stephen King a run for his money. Quill & Quire’s called him Canada’s answer to R.L. Stine. If the macabre is not to your taste you might want to give it a pass, but if you’re intrigued by Halloween horror, Stranger Things, and masterfully crafted suspense, read on.
This rapid-fire tale is as highly emotional as its teenage protagonists. Seventeen-year-old Joana, her thirteen-year-old brother Peter, and her troubled father are on the run—not from evil humans but from the voices that haunt their tortured father. The Whisperings.
“They whisper in my ear in the middle of the night as I sleep. They murmur, mumble, and mutter, often nothing more than a stream of indecipherable nonsense. Clear words sometimes jump out of the noise, like fish flying from the water, and sometimes the voices yell. But they all want, and need, and demand”(53).
Every time The Whisperings take hold, the Guests pack their car and drive off to find a new town. This nomadic existence started thirteen years ago when Joana’s mother was violently murdered in their family home. (Note: her horrific murder is described in vivid detail later in the story.) Now, they’ve arrived in the small town of Burlington, Vermont and rented the dank basement of a sprawling (and crawling) Victorian house from old Mrs. Cracknell. It’s a fixer-upper with reduced rent because Dad’s a handyman. It’s hard to keep a job when you’re constantly running from the voices in your head.
Known locally as “The Kill House”, it’s alive, not only with the spirits of a family torn asunder by a tragic murder-suicide, but with creepy insects that natter in the walls. “Ta-tump, ta-tump, ta-tump!” You see, Abraham Keil, the depraved murderer, was an entomologist at the local university. Centipedes and spiders lurk in these musty pages, and a Death Watch Beetle sings Joana into her closet, where she bashes in the wall and discovers the red room. Use your imagination.
If that’s not enough, there’s a creepy little beetle dead-centre every time we break scenes that makes me jump even though I know it’s coming.
When Joana tumbles from a red rock cliff, narrowly escaping with her life, she awakens in hospital with the ability to see ghosts herself. The Whisperings have somehow been transferred to her via a concussion. Woven through the story is a B-plot love story that offers some relief from the nail-biting suspense. Joana meets Willem, a quirky, bookish boy who works at the local diner and christens her, Pumpkin Spice on account of her first latte. How sweet. Will they both survive the hauntings?
Joana’s been on the run since she was four years old and wants nothing more than to put down roots in Burlington, an old-timey village that feels like home to her. She loves to run, and this talent earns her a place on the school rugby team. Things seem to be working out, what with rugby and Willem, until they’re not.
Canadian author Joel A. Sutherland is the award-winning author of Scholastic Canada’s Haunted Canada series (now a graphic novel in development for television). This “master of the macabre” lives in Ontario with his family, but sets his books south of the border in Vermont. His novel, Summer’s End, was a Red Maple Award Honour Book. The Whisperings follows his debut YA novel, House of Ash and Bone, a novel of ghosts and witches, also set in Vermont. He received a Masters of Information and Library Studies from Aberystwyth University in Wales.
In the Afterword, Sutherland explains that horror stories “teach us how to defeat the thing hiding under our bed, the monster lurking in our closet, or the voices only we can hear. They give us the tools we need to face our fears. They remind us that we’re not alone; when the lights go out, we all get a little scared. But in the morning, the sun always rises” (289). Well, maybe not for ALL the characters in this book. If you’re craving frenzied goosebumps, this may be the book for you.
This rapid-fire tale is as highly emotional as its teenage protagonists. Seventeen-year-old Joana, her thirteen-year-old brother Peter, and her troubled father are on the run—not from evil humans but from the voices that haunt their tortured father. The Whisperings.
“They whisper in my ear in the middle of the night as I sleep. They murmur, mumble, and mutter, often nothing more than a stream of indecipherable nonsense. Clear words sometimes jump out of the noise, like fish flying from the water, and sometimes the voices yell. But they all want, and need, and demand”(53).
Every time The Whisperings take hold, the Guests pack their car and drive off to find a new town. This nomadic existence started thirteen years ago when Joana’s mother was violently murdered in their family home. (Note: her horrific murder is described in vivid detail later in the story.) Now, they’ve arrived in the small town of Burlington, Vermont and rented the dank basement of a sprawling (and crawling) Victorian house from old Mrs. Cracknell. It’s a fixer-upper with reduced rent because Dad’s a handyman. It’s hard to keep a job when you’re constantly running from the voices in your head.
Known locally as “The Kill House”, it’s alive, not only with the spirits of a family torn asunder by a tragic murder-suicide, but with creepy insects that natter in the walls. “Ta-tump, ta-tump, ta-tump!” You see, Abraham Keil, the depraved murderer, was an entomologist at the local university. Centipedes and spiders lurk in these musty pages, and a Death Watch Beetle sings Joana into her closet, where she bashes in the wall and discovers the red room. Use your imagination.
If that’s not enough, there’s a creepy little beetle dead-centre every time we break scenes that makes me jump even though I know it’s coming.
When Joana tumbles from a red rock cliff, narrowly escaping with her life, she awakens in hospital with the ability to see ghosts herself. The Whisperings have somehow been transferred to her via a concussion. Woven through the story is a B-plot love story that offers some relief from the nail-biting suspense. Joana meets Willem, a quirky, bookish boy who works at the local diner and christens her, Pumpkin Spice on account of her first latte. How sweet. Will they both survive the hauntings?
Joana’s been on the run since she was four years old and wants nothing more than to put down roots in Burlington, an old-timey village that feels like home to her. She loves to run, and this talent earns her a place on the school rugby team. Things seem to be working out, what with rugby and Willem, until they’re not.
Canadian author Joel A. Sutherland is the award-winning author of Scholastic Canada’s Haunted Canada series (now a graphic novel in development for television). This “master of the macabre” lives in Ontario with his family, but sets his books south of the border in Vermont. His novel, Summer’s End, was a Red Maple Award Honour Book. The Whisperings follows his debut YA novel, House of Ash and Bone, a novel of ghosts and witches, also set in Vermont. He received a Masters of Information and Library Studies from Aberystwyth University in Wales.
In the Afterword, Sutherland explains that horror stories “teach us how to defeat the thing hiding under our bed, the monster lurking in our closet, or the voices only we can hear. They give us the tools we need to face our fears. They remind us that we’re not alone; when the lights go out, we all get a little scared. But in the morning, the sun always rises” (289). Well, maybe not for ALL the characters in this book. If you’re craving frenzied goosebumps, this may be the book for you.
July 12, 2025
After the violent murder of their mother, Joana and her younger brother Peter are used to being uprooted at a moments notice and moved around by their father who suffers from hauntings of the past. He calls them “The Whisperings” and will do whatever he can to keeps his kids safe from them.
While checking the newspaper ads, a rental too good to be true catches his attention, and they soon find themselves in a basement suite of a large creepy downtown mansion in Burlington, Vermont.
When things finally seem to be falling into place, a near death experience awakens “the whisperings” in Joana, and she soon meets the previous owners of the house who are still there, reliving their own gruesome murders over and over again.
—-
Ghost stories/ haunted houses are a favorite of mine, so I definitely jumped at the chance to read this one early! Overall the plot was pretty cool, however I did have some problems with the execution. Some of it seemed a bit far fetched or not cohesive. It was hard to make it a believable story with these issues at times.
For a YA horror there were some pretty descriptive scenes of violence and gore, but for me, that was right up my alley 🙌. Grief horror is also a favorite of mine so really dug that part. Mrs. Cracknell was not only a great name, but a great character as well 😄.
Overall I give this one a 3.5/5
While checking the newspaper ads, a rental too good to be true catches his attention, and they soon find themselves in a basement suite of a large creepy downtown mansion in Burlington, Vermont.
When things finally seem to be falling into place, a near death experience awakens “the whisperings” in Joana, and she soon meets the previous owners of the house who are still there, reliving their own gruesome murders over and over again.
—-
Ghost stories/ haunted houses are a favorite of mine, so I definitely jumped at the chance to read this one early! Overall the plot was pretty cool, however I did have some problems with the execution. Some of it seemed a bit far fetched or not cohesive. It was hard to make it a believable story with these issues at times.
For a YA horror there were some pretty descriptive scenes of violence and gore, but for me, that was right up my alley 🙌. Grief horror is also a favorite of mine so really dug that part. Mrs. Cracknell was not only a great name, but a great character as well 😄.
Overall I give this one a 3.5/5
April 11, 2026
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️rounded up
I’ve come to realize I just love this author and I want MORE. Just such cozy spooky fun horror I eat all his YA horror books up 😍😍😍😍
I’ve come to realize I just love this author and I want MORE. Just such cozy spooky fun horror I eat all his YA horror books up 😍😍😍😍
November 4, 2025
What a great and thrilling read! I really enjoyed this book and the plot was so good!!!
I was skeptical because it was a YA horror - but it really surprised me and I was definitely shocked as more than one part throughout reading!!
I was skeptical because it was a YA horror - but it really surprised me and I was definitely shocked as more than one part throughout reading!!
December 31, 2025
“The Whisperings,” by Joel A. Sutherland
I absolutely adored this book. From all the family trauma in the past and the current family drama of always moving I ate up the complexity of the family dynamic. Piecing together what happened in the past was mysterious but kept me glued.
My favorite part is that this book reminds me of Coraline, but with the focus being heavier on the ghosts than the vivid imagery of Coraline. I loved the bugs that were constantly around, it’s one of my favorite eerie touches that is rarely in books.
This book I think is better for readers who like young adult books (no spice) and quirky eerie type ghosts’ stories. It was a great way for the main character to make her come of age plot in serious ways that is written in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming for the characters or readers.
I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars, it was a really fun read.
-Ghosts
-Family Trauma
-Horror
Thank you for the copy, Librarything, Tundrabooks, and Joel A. Sutherland.
I absolutely adored this book. From all the family trauma in the past and the current family drama of always moving I ate up the complexity of the family dynamic. Piecing together what happened in the past was mysterious but kept me glued.
My favorite part is that this book reminds me of Coraline, but with the focus being heavier on the ghosts than the vivid imagery of Coraline. I loved the bugs that were constantly around, it’s one of my favorite eerie touches that is rarely in books.
This book I think is better for readers who like young adult books (no spice) and quirky eerie type ghosts’ stories. It was a great way for the main character to make her come of age plot in serious ways that is written in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming for the characters or readers.
I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars, it was a really fun read.
-Ghosts
-Family Trauma
-Horror
Thank you for the copy, Librarything, Tundrabooks, and Joel A. Sutherland.
August 26, 2026
The Whisperings by Joel A. Sutherland is a creepy, atmospheric read that does a great job of building suspense and keeping you guessing. The eerie setting and unsettling moments create a strong sense of tension, while the story steadily draws you deeper into its mystery. I especially enjoyed the way Sutherland balances supernatural elements with the characters’ experiences, making the danger feel increasingly real. A few parts felt a little slow, and I wanted slightly more depth from some of the characters, but overall, this was an engaging and chilling read. 4 stars for the atmosphere, suspense, and haunting story!
December 10, 2025
~~Reviewed by Toby Palevsky Smith of Toby's Nerd-Cave Library~~
Joana and her brother Peter, have always moved around - often in the middle of the night with no warning - due to their father’s fear and paranoia about what he calls ‘The Whisperings’. The night her mother was murdered, Joana saw it all happen from under the bed, and her father started to hear voices in his head that may or may not be real, that he feels threaten to harm him and his children. After a near death experience, Joana begins to hear and see strange things too. She begins to see that the basement apartment they just moved into is also haunted, by the family who was murdered there.
I really loved all the horror scenes, and the surprising amount of gore and macabre imagery, this book would make an amazing horror movie too. There were a few scenes that were definitely a bit - violently - graphic and not for the faint hearted. The characters I feel weren’t really fully developed, and could have used more personality, but I did enjoy Joana and her father, Jack’s characters.
The twist at the end was actually not that hard to see coming if you pay attention to the foreshadowing clues when the ghosts are first introduced. The rules for ghosthood and seeing them could have been more clearly defined, but otherwise I think the author did a really good job showing them. The language was very descriptive and kind of flowery in places, but overall the story really just flowed well with good pacing. The author seemed to leave an opening for a possible sequel too, and I really hope that happens.
Thank you to the Librarything Early Reviewers Club, the Publishers, Penguin Random House Tundra Books, and the Author, Joel A. Sutherland, for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Joana and her brother Peter, have always moved around - often in the middle of the night with no warning - due to their father’s fear and paranoia about what he calls ‘The Whisperings’. The night her mother was murdered, Joana saw it all happen from under the bed, and her father started to hear voices in his head that may or may not be real, that he feels threaten to harm him and his children. After a near death experience, Joana begins to hear and see strange things too. She begins to see that the basement apartment they just moved into is also haunted, by the family who was murdered there.
I really loved all the horror scenes, and the surprising amount of gore and macabre imagery, this book would make an amazing horror movie too. There were a few scenes that were definitely a bit - violently - graphic and not for the faint hearted. The characters I feel weren’t really fully developed, and could have used more personality, but I did enjoy Joana and her father, Jack’s characters.
The twist at the end was actually not that hard to see coming if you pay attention to the foreshadowing clues when the ghosts are first introduced. The rules for ghosthood and seeing them could have been more clearly defined, but otherwise I think the author did a really good job showing them. The language was very descriptive and kind of flowery in places, but overall the story really just flowed well with good pacing. The author seemed to leave an opening for a possible sequel too, and I really hope that happens.
Thank you to the Librarything Early Reviewers Club, the Publishers, Penguin Random House Tundra Books, and the Author, Joel A. Sutherland, for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2026
I must say, Joana is freaking brave!
The Whisperings is not only a creepy haunted house story, it focuses on family, adolescence, and grief.
The pacing is insane, there was never a dull moment! There were times that I regretted deciding to read this alone, in the dark, at night. I’m certainly never looking under a bed again… like ever.
I loved trying to figure out the twist at the end, and I am so excited that I didn’t figure this one out!! I do think some parts were quite unrealistic to how people would react to the events happening, but it honestly didn’t bother me that much. This was a fast paced and unsettling read. It was impossible to set the book down until the very end.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Joel A. Sutherland for an eARC!
The Whisperings is not only a creepy haunted house story, it focuses on family, adolescence, and grief.
The pacing is insane, there was never a dull moment! There were times that I regretted deciding to read this alone, in the dark, at night. I’m certainly never looking under a bed again… like ever.
I loved trying to figure out the twist at the end, and I am so excited that I didn’t figure this one out!! I do think some parts were quite unrealistic to how people would react to the events happening, but it honestly didn’t bother me that much. This was a fast paced and unsettling read. It was impossible to set the book down until the very end.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Joel A. Sutherland for an eARC!
May 7, 2025
3.5
thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
this book was SCARY! it was so good, i couldn’t put it down. it kept getting freakier as it went on and even the ending was still chilling.
i loved the characters in this. their tragic pasts influenced how the “whisperings” dealt with them and it was really powerful.
if horror is your game, definitely check this one out
thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
this book was SCARY! it was so good, i couldn’t put it down. it kept getting freakier as it went on and even the ending was still chilling.
i loved the characters in this. their tragic pasts influenced how the “whisperings” dealt with them and it was really powerful.
if horror is your game, definitely check this one out
October 31, 2025
Absolutely mesmerizing!! 😱📖✨
This book completely blew me away! From the very first page, I was hooked; it’s spooky, emotional, and impossible to put down! 👻💀
The atmosphere is chilling in the best possible way, and I could literally feel the goosebumps rising as I turned each page. 😨
The author has this magical ability to make you see and feel everything, the whispers in the dark, the eerie silence, the heart-pounding suspense… It’s all so vivid!
The characters felt so real, and I loved how the story balanced the supernatural with deep, human emotions. ❤️🔥
By the end, I was both terrified and totally in awe
This book completely blew me away! From the very first page, I was hooked; it’s spooky, emotional, and impossible to put down! 👻💀
The atmosphere is chilling in the best possible way, and I could literally feel the goosebumps rising as I turned each page. 😨
The author has this magical ability to make you see and feel everything, the whispers in the dark, the eerie silence, the heart-pounding suspense… It’s all so vivid!
The characters felt so real, and I loved how the story balanced the supernatural with deep, human emotions. ❤️🔥
By the end, I was both terrified and totally in awe
July 27, 2025
This is specifically for the ARC, not the actual book:
Unfortunately, in its current state, it's nearly unreadable with no clear chapter markers, several errors, and difficult spacing. Mine also had a mix of fonts from regular to italics. The premise overall is very interesting, as someone who has family members and a family history of schizophrenia, I was curious. I would be willing to give this another shot in the future.
Update: I was given three copies of this ARC now by Netgalley, Edelweiss and I think some raffle group all of them were like this.
Unfortunately, in its current state, it's nearly unreadable with no clear chapter markers, several errors, and difficult spacing. Mine also had a mix of fonts from regular to italics. The premise overall is very interesting, as someone who has family members and a family history of schizophrenia, I was curious. I would be willing to give this another shot in the future.
Update: I was given three copies of this ARC now by Netgalley, Edelweiss and I think some raffle group all of them were like this.
June 11, 2026
This was so good!!!! It creeped me out. The story was so clear in my mind, descriptive enough to follow and see the details without weighing too much on it. The Kiels were disturbed, and the ending was kind of a cliffhanger for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Tundra Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Joel A. Sutherland’s “The Whisperings” is a chilling, blood-soaked YA horror book that combines supernatural terror with real emotional depth. Centered around Joana Guest, a teen girl scarred by the trauma of witnessing her mother’s violent death, the story explores grief, family, and the haunting power of the past—both literal and figurative.
After years of moving from town to town, Joana, her younger brother Peter, and their secretive father land in Burlington, Vermont, hoping for a fresh start. But their new rental—an eerie old mansion—has other plans. When a near-death experience triggers Joana’s ability to see ghosts, she begins to unravel the secrets of the house and its horrifying past. The ghosts she encounters are not passive spirits—they are trapped in a nightmarish loop of their own gruesome deaths, reliving the violence that ended their lives in grotesque detail. The horror only escalates from there, with dismemberments, swarms of bugs, and scenes that get progressively more graphic and terrifying.
Sutherland doesn’t shy away from gore, and this book earns its place firmly in the upper range of YA horror—definitely not for the squeamish or younger readers. Yet beneath the fear and blood lies a thoughtful narrative about healing. The "Whisperings", which are phantom voices that have plagued Joana’s father for years, tie into the theme of inherited trauma and the lingering echoes of grief. Joana’s journey isn’t just about surviving ghosts, but about learning to face the pain she’s buried for so long.
Character-wise, the book offers a familiar high school dynamic, including the cliché mean girl trope. Thankfully, this character is given a bit more dimension as the story unfolds. A refreshing twist is Joana’s involvement with the rugby team—a detail that adds nuance to her character and helps avoid typical YA stereotypes. There’s a touch of romance with Willem, a classmate who adds warmth without stealing the spotlight from the main plot.
The pacing is strong, with mysteries revealed gradually, allowing you to piece together the puzzle alongside Joana. The relationship between Joana and Peter is especially touching, offering a grounded sibling bond amidst the supernatural chaos.
By the end, “The Whisperings” leaves you with the promise of more to come. With Joana now fully awakened to the spirit world, the door is wide open for sequels. And if they’re anything like this one—dark, emotional, and bone-chilling—they’ll be well worth the wait.
Overall, this is a gripping and gruesome ghost story that’s as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying. Horror-loving teens (and adults) looking for a scare that lingers long after the final page will find plenty to love—and fear—in “The Whisperings.”
Joel A. Sutherland’s “The Whisperings” is a chilling, blood-soaked YA horror book that combines supernatural terror with real emotional depth. Centered around Joana Guest, a teen girl scarred by the trauma of witnessing her mother’s violent death, the story explores grief, family, and the haunting power of the past—both literal and figurative.
After years of moving from town to town, Joana, her younger brother Peter, and their secretive father land in Burlington, Vermont, hoping for a fresh start. But their new rental—an eerie old mansion—has other plans. When a near-death experience triggers Joana’s ability to see ghosts, she begins to unravel the secrets of the house and its horrifying past. The ghosts she encounters are not passive spirits—they are trapped in a nightmarish loop of their own gruesome deaths, reliving the violence that ended their lives in grotesque detail. The horror only escalates from there, with dismemberments, swarms of bugs, and scenes that get progressively more graphic and terrifying.
Sutherland doesn’t shy away from gore, and this book earns its place firmly in the upper range of YA horror—definitely not for the squeamish or younger readers. Yet beneath the fear and blood lies a thoughtful narrative about healing. The "Whisperings", which are phantom voices that have plagued Joana’s father for years, tie into the theme of inherited trauma and the lingering echoes of grief. Joana’s journey isn’t just about surviving ghosts, but about learning to face the pain she’s buried for so long.
Character-wise, the book offers a familiar high school dynamic, including the cliché mean girl trope. Thankfully, this character is given a bit more dimension as the story unfolds. A refreshing twist is Joana’s involvement with the rugby team—a detail that adds nuance to her character and helps avoid typical YA stereotypes. There’s a touch of romance with Willem, a classmate who adds warmth without stealing the spotlight from the main plot.
The pacing is strong, with mysteries revealed gradually, allowing you to piece together the puzzle alongside Joana. The relationship between Joana and Peter is especially touching, offering a grounded sibling bond amidst the supernatural chaos.
By the end, “The Whisperings” leaves you with the promise of more to come. With Joana now fully awakened to the spirit world, the door is wide open for sequels. And if they’re anything like this one—dark, emotional, and bone-chilling—they’ll be well worth the wait.
Overall, this is a gripping and gruesome ghost story that’s as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying. Horror-loving teens (and adults) looking for a scare that lingers long after the final page will find plenty to love—and fear—in “The Whisperings.”
November 10, 2025
This had an interesting premise, and it had some effective horror scenes. But I couldn't get fully invested in the story. The characters and their interactions did not feel natural. Joana's rivalry with Triss and romantic interest in Willem seemed thrown in just to fill up a side character quota. I could not care about either. When it came to Joana's family, too much was brushed past too quickly for them to ever feel like real players in the story. Whether it was Joana's father opening up about why they had to move so often or Joana laying out all the supernatural horrors happening to her, major events were summarized in a sentence or two, after which the characters always accepted them fully and carried on as usual. There was so little emotion shown and so few meaningful reactions from any of the characters that they felt immaterial. That also meant that when characters were making dumb, dangerous decisions, I had a much harder time accepting it as at least being in character, because what character?
The characters were my main issue, but I had other issues with things being too easy or too convenient for the plot, while feeling unrealistic. Joana's miraculous healing, for one, I expected that to be plot relevant, probably supernatural, but if it was, that was never made clear. Instead, it seemed like the author wanted her seriously injured to raise the stakes, but also didn’t want to deal with the repercussions, so they lampshaded it by having characters keep commenting on how she recovered so strangely fast. But that just made the danger seem less serious. I didn’t need every detail to be hyperrealistic, but then I don’t want my attention drawn to the lack of realism, especially if it's just to be told that it doesn't make sense in-universe either. The same for their financial situation, with all these hospital stays and the father's inability to work afterwards, among other things.
The characters were my main issue, but I had other issues with things being too easy or too convenient for the plot, while feeling unrealistic. Joana's miraculous healing, for one, I expected that to be plot relevant, probably supernatural, but if it was, that was never made clear. Instead, it seemed like the author wanted her seriously injured to raise the stakes, but also didn’t want to deal with the repercussions, so they lampshaded it by having characters keep commenting on how she recovered so strangely fast. But that just made the danger seem less serious. I didn’t need every detail to be hyperrealistic, but then I don’t want my attention drawn to the lack of realism, especially if it's just to be told that it doesn't make sense in-universe either. The same for their financial situation, with all these hospital stays and the father's inability to work afterwards, among other things.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews