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The Whistler
A young man is haunted by a mythological specter bent on stealing everything he loves in this unsettling horror from the author of Indian Burial Ground and Sisters of the Lost Nation.
As featured in People ∙ Men’s Health ∙ Chicago Tribune ∙ Paste Magazine ∙ and more!
For fear of summoning evil spirits, Native superstition says you should never, ever whistle at night.
Henry Hotard was on the verge of fame, gaining a following and traction with his eerie ghost-hunting videos. Then his dreams came to a screeching halt. Now, he's learning to navigate a new life in a wheelchair, back on the reservation where he grew up, relying on his grandparents’ care while he recovers.
And he’s being haunted.
His girlfriend, Jade, insists he just needs time to adjust to his new reality as a quadriplegic, that it’s his traumatized mind playing tricks on him, but Henry knows better. As the specter haunting him creeps closer each night, Henry battles to find a way to endure, to rid himself of the horror stalking him. Worried that this dread might plague him forever, he realizes the only way to exile his phantom is by confronting his troubled past and going back to the events that led to his injury.
It all started when he whistled at night....
As featured in People ∙ Men’s Health ∙ Chicago Tribune ∙ Paste Magazine ∙ and more!
For fear of summoning evil spirits, Native superstition says you should never, ever whistle at night.
Henry Hotard was on the verge of fame, gaining a following and traction with his eerie ghost-hunting videos. Then his dreams came to a screeching halt. Now, he's learning to navigate a new life in a wheelchair, back on the reservation where he grew up, relying on his grandparents’ care while he recovers.
And he’s being haunted.
His girlfriend, Jade, insists he just needs time to adjust to his new reality as a quadriplegic, that it’s his traumatized mind playing tricks on him, but Henry knows better. As the specter haunting him creeps closer each night, Henry battles to find a way to endure, to rid himself of the horror stalking him. Worried that this dread might plague him forever, he realizes the only way to exile his phantom is by confronting his troubled past and going back to the events that led to his injury.
It all started when he whistled at night....
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2025
122 people are currently reading
15987 people want to read
About the author
Nick Medina
15 books606 followersBorn in Chicago, Illinois, Nick Medina has degrees in organizational and multicultural communication, and has worked as a college communnications instructor. He has had short stories published in various fiction outlets since 2009. An enthusiast of local and Native lore, his debut novel, Sisters of the Lost Nation, features several supernatural myths and legends. He became interested in the problem of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls after reading an article in the Chicago Tribune about Ashley Loring Heavyrunner, who went missing from the Blackfoot reservation in 2017. He enjoys exploring the strange and unusual, haunted cemeteries, and other spooky places, playing guitar, blues-based music and classic rock, physical fitness, and spending time with family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
May 23, 2025
I was so not expecting The Whistler to be both a prequel and a sequel to Medina's previous novel, Indian Burial Ground. You don't need to have read it in order to enjoy this one since the two storylines follow different main characters and focus on separate (but interrelated) mysteries, but they do heavily intersect at times. If you finished Indian Burial Ground wondering why Roddy Bishop ran in front of the Jeep that night, reading this novel will provide you with all of the answers.
Like its predecessor, The Whistler is rather depressing and dark, but also fantastically creepy. The prologue is terrifying, and it does't get much less scary from there … at least until the very end, anyway. The flashbacks to pre-Henry's accident were my favorite parts of the book, mainly because I'm a sucker for anything that involves reality TV-ish ghost hunting and haunted houses. Henry is determined to make it big as a paranormal investigator, but things take a dark turn when he investigates the abandoned Cadow house and makes the mistake of whistling at night.
Medina is undisputedly the master of dropping important bombshell tidbits into the story in the most understated and casual way possible. Like, “Stanislaus milked the cow that he considered to be his girlfriend, and then he went back inside to do the dishes” sort of casual. There were so many “Wait … what?!?” moments in this book and it delighted me every single time it happened. I never saw the big twist coming, and I can't help but to wonder how many little hints and clues I missed along the way because I wasn't paying close enough attention to the text.
Medina also does a fantastic job of portraying the everyday struggles of a quadriplegic and the initial feeling of helplessness that must accompany such a diagnosis. Henry's anger and depression are palpable, and you can't help but feel for him even though he's a bit of an unappreciative wanker for most of the book.
My one small complaint is that the ending feels so out of place compared to the rest of the novel. It's just so saccharine and hopeful, which is jarring when compared to the sadness that permeates the previous chapters. I know, I know, it's impossible to satisfy me – half the time I'm complaining about depressing endings and now I'm complaining about the happy ones. Sorry. It doesn't ruin the story or anything and it wasn't necessarily a bad ending, but it was definitely not the ending I was expecting.
There are a few loose ends in this story that were never adequately wrapped up, which I'm hoping means there might be another future novel set on the Takoda Indian Reservation? I still have nightmares about creepy people crawling backward to their doom from Indian Burial Ground and now a brand new fear of whistling at night, so I look forward whatever trauma Medina's next novel will bring me.
My overall rating: 4.15 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 16, 2025.
Like its predecessor, The Whistler is rather depressing and dark, but also fantastically creepy. The prologue is terrifying, and it does't get much less scary from there … at least until the very end, anyway. The flashbacks to pre-Henry's accident were my favorite parts of the book, mainly because I'm a sucker for anything that involves reality TV-ish ghost hunting and haunted houses. Henry is determined to make it big as a paranormal investigator, but things take a dark turn when he investigates the abandoned Cadow house and makes the mistake of whistling at night.
Medina is undisputedly the master of dropping important bombshell tidbits into the story in the most understated and casual way possible. Like, “Stanislaus milked the cow that he considered to be his girlfriend, and then he went back inside to do the dishes” sort of casual. There were so many “Wait … what?!?” moments in this book and it delighted me every single time it happened. I never saw the big twist coming, and I can't help but to wonder how many little hints and clues I missed along the way because I wasn't paying close enough attention to the text.
Medina also does a fantastic job of portraying the everyday struggles of a quadriplegic and the initial feeling of helplessness that must accompany such a diagnosis. Henry's anger and depression are palpable, and you can't help but feel for him even though he's a bit of an unappreciative wanker for most of the book.
My one small complaint is that the ending feels so out of place compared to the rest of the novel. It's just so saccharine and hopeful, which is jarring when compared to the sadness that permeates the previous chapters. I know, I know, it's impossible to satisfy me – half the time I'm complaining about depressing endings and now I'm complaining about the happy ones. Sorry. It doesn't ruin the story or anything and it wasn't necessarily a bad ending, but it was definitely not the ending I was expecting.
There are a few loose ends in this story that were never adequately wrapped up, which I'm hoping means there might be another future novel set on the Takoda Indian Reservation? I still have nightmares about creepy people crawling backward to their doom from Indian Burial Ground and now a brand new fear of whistling at night, so I look forward whatever trauma Medina's next novel will bring me.
My overall rating: 4.15 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 16, 2025.
December 14, 2025
**4.5-stars rounded up**
The Whistler follows our MC, Henry, a young man who is grappling with his new reality of being confined to a wheelchair after being paralyzed in a horrific accident.
Before his accident, Henry was happy. He was a talented musician, had a beautiful girlfriend, Jade, who he had a great, active relationship with, and his ghost hunting channel was actually gaining some traction.
Post-accident, Henry has to move in with his grandparents, relying on them for even the simplest tasks. His relationship with Jade, as well as with his best friend, is estranged. He feels useless, hopeless and emasculated.
His grandparents, Jade, everyone is trying to talk him up, telling him he can still live and have a good life, but they just don't understand how he feels. Henry feels so alone.
Oh, and he's also being haunted...
As the being haunting him gets continuously closer and more bold, Henry realizes he needs to confront his past, and the events that caused his injury, if he is to have any hope of banishing it for good. He can't do it alone, so Henry is forced to open up to those around him that he's been shutting out.
The Whistler took me completely by surprise. Not because of how incredible it is, but because of its connection to Indian Burial Ground, which I wasn't expecting at all.
I'm such a Nick Medina fan. I love the quality and richness of his storytelling. The tone of his stories, they take me through every different emotion and leave me simultaneously gutted and inspired. This story is an absolute roller coaster ride of feelings.
The Prologue, which doesn't follow Henry, but is related to the events that caused his injury, was terrifying. I read it home alone in the dark, and I was genuinely creeped out.
From that moment on, I was gripped by the story, that's mainly told through Henry's past and present perspective. I loved the depths that Medina went with this character.
Seeing the difference in Henry between his past, happier, times and his present, post-injury, was very jarring. It made him feel so incredibly real, as everything happening to him, and the journey he was on emotionally, it was raw and messy. I felt that representation was done with great care.
The haunting elements were so well-imagined. Medina created some stellar horror imagery on page. I loved how the never whistle at night lore was woven through as well.
In fact, the first time I read Medina's work was in the Indigenous Dark Fiction anthology, Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology, which was where I learned of that belief. I was excited when I saw that Medina had written a full novel incorporating that lore.
As mentioned above, this story is related to Indian Burial Ground. It's not a sequel, or anything, and of course can be read as a standalone, however, I do feel it will have the greatest impact for those people who have already read IBG.
Overall, I was so impressed by this. It's such a gripping, mysterious, haunting, and well-rounded story.
I would definitely recommend this Horror readers, or readers of Indigenous Fiction in general. Also, anyone who read and enjoyed Indian Burial Ground, you have to check this out.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can't wait for whatever Medina writes next!
The Whistler follows our MC, Henry, a young man who is grappling with his new reality of being confined to a wheelchair after being paralyzed in a horrific accident.
Before his accident, Henry was happy. He was a talented musician, had a beautiful girlfriend, Jade, who he had a great, active relationship with, and his ghost hunting channel was actually gaining some traction.
Post-accident, Henry has to move in with his grandparents, relying on them for even the simplest tasks. His relationship with Jade, as well as with his best friend, is estranged. He feels useless, hopeless and emasculated.
His grandparents, Jade, everyone is trying to talk him up, telling him he can still live and have a good life, but they just don't understand how he feels. Henry feels so alone.
Oh, and he's also being haunted...
As the being haunting him gets continuously closer and more bold, Henry realizes he needs to confront his past, and the events that caused his injury, if he is to have any hope of banishing it for good. He can't do it alone, so Henry is forced to open up to those around him that he's been shutting out.
The Whistler took me completely by surprise. Not because of how incredible it is, but because of its connection to Indian Burial Ground, which I wasn't expecting at all.
I'm such a Nick Medina fan. I love the quality and richness of his storytelling. The tone of his stories, they take me through every different emotion and leave me simultaneously gutted and inspired. This story is an absolute roller coaster ride of feelings.
The Prologue, which doesn't follow Henry, but is related to the events that caused his injury, was terrifying. I read it home alone in the dark, and I was genuinely creeped out.
From that moment on, I was gripped by the story, that's mainly told through Henry's past and present perspective. I loved the depths that Medina went with this character.
Seeing the difference in Henry between his past, happier, times and his present, post-injury, was very jarring. It made him feel so incredibly real, as everything happening to him, and the journey he was on emotionally, it was raw and messy. I felt that representation was done with great care.
The haunting elements were so well-imagined. Medina created some stellar horror imagery on page. I loved how the never whistle at night lore was woven through as well.
In fact, the first time I read Medina's work was in the Indigenous Dark Fiction anthology, Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology, which was where I learned of that belief. I was excited when I saw that Medina had written a full novel incorporating that lore.
As mentioned above, this story is related to Indian Burial Ground. It's not a sequel, or anything, and of course can be read as a standalone, however, I do feel it will have the greatest impact for those people who have already read IBG.
Overall, I was so impressed by this. It's such a gripping, mysterious, haunting, and well-rounded story.
I would definitely recommend this Horror readers, or readers of Indigenous Fiction in general. Also, anyone who read and enjoyed Indian Burial Ground, you have to check this out.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can't wait for whatever Medina writes next!
September 14, 2025
The Whistler
by Nick Medina
This is the first book I've read by this author. I was hoping for a good creepy horror book with ghosts by it was at best a sad story about a man's anger and his life choices and consequences.
I was confused at times, I didn't know it was going back and forth between one of his other books. I would have read Indian Burial Grounds first if I had known. It was also very slow in spots and seemed to repeat itself.
The man was a ghost hunter and became paralyzed. It became his nightmare. Sure, it was supposed to be about whistling after dark but I think it had a lot to do with his crappy attitude toward everyone and him in a compromising position. Not really too horrifying unless YOU were that bad-attitude paralyzed guy. Maybe that's what it was really about.
by Nick Medina
This is the first book I've read by this author. I was hoping for a good creepy horror book with ghosts by it was at best a sad story about a man's anger and his life choices and consequences.
I was confused at times, I didn't know it was going back and forth between one of his other books. I would have read Indian Burial Grounds first if I had known. It was also very slow in spots and seemed to repeat itself.
The man was a ghost hunter and became paralyzed. It became his nightmare. Sure, it was supposed to be about whistling after dark but I think it had a lot to do with his crappy attitude toward everyone and him in a compromising position. Not really too horrifying unless YOU were that bad-attitude paralyzed guy. Maybe that's what it was really about.
November 8, 2025
The Price of a Whistle
“I whistled at night outside the Cadow house,” he reasons. “I think that’s when my haunting started. My whistle must have attracted something wicked, something that had been lying in wait since the night it stained Jackie’s bedroom carpet red.”
Don't whistle at night. Whether you believe in evil spirits, superstitions, or ghosts is irrelevant. Just… don't whistle. This conviction is not limited to various Native American beliefs, it’s a primal, shared across cultures. Don’t invite what waits in the dark.
“The Whistler” opens with an eerie prologue, a fictionalized account of the true crime story of the Phantom Whistler of Louisiana. Following that we meet the protagonist, Henry Hotard, whose story unfolds across two different timelines. In one timeline, Henry is an ambitious 23-year-old running a ghost hunter YouTube channel with his devoted girlfriend, Jade, and best friend, Toad. They collaborate on his videos until a fateful day when their investigation takes them to the wrong site... and somebody whistles…
Whether the cause is supernatural or merely a cruel twist of fate, Henry sustains an accident that results in his becoming a quadriplegic. These events are narrated in the alternating chapters of the book. Now resentful and completely dependent on his grandparents, he directs his anger at both Jade and Toad, harboring suspicions that the two are developing a romantic relationship.
Thankfully, the use of a quadriplegic character serves as more than a convenient plot device. Author Nick Medina has taken great pains to go into the character’s psyche, interviewing subjects to provide insight into the challenges they face. The bond between Henry and Rhett, another quadriplegic who cautiously mentors him at a rehabilitation center, is particularly compelling.
Henry is difficult to like. He is a dick. While his initial manipulative behavior is off-putting, even his subsequent, more comprehensible demeanor is difficult to bear. Fortunately, the story maintains momentum—especially as patience with Henry wanes—through the rising tension of an inevitable confrontation, amplified by the presence of a menacing entity, whether it exists in reality or solely in his mind. And trust me, you want to stick around for the end.
Interspersed between chapters is the lore about Double-Face, or Two-Face, including the parable "The Boy With Two Faces," which serves as a foreshadowing element. The work also establishes a connection to two of Medina’s previous books, “Sisters of the Lost Nation” and “Indian Burial Ground.” Readers of “Indian Burial Ground” will finally learn the reason behind Roddy’s actions—why he jumped in front of that truck—but that is just a bonus. This does work perfectly well as a stand-alone, although it is fun to see where the stories intersect.
Nick Medina's "The Whistler" blends ancient folklore with the modern world. The novel's fictional horror, if you are a non-believer, is deeply connected to the very real pain of losing personal control and autonomy. The chilling presence of whatever the whistle summons is out there, not just on the fictional Takoda reservation, but out in the darkness of the real world.
Thank you to the Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheWhistler #NetGalley
“I whistled at night outside the Cadow house,” he reasons. “I think that’s when my haunting started. My whistle must have attracted something wicked, something that had been lying in wait since the night it stained Jackie’s bedroom carpet red.”
Don't whistle at night. Whether you believe in evil spirits, superstitions, or ghosts is irrelevant. Just… don't whistle. This conviction is not limited to various Native American beliefs, it’s a primal, shared across cultures. Don’t invite what waits in the dark.
“The Whistler” opens with an eerie prologue, a fictionalized account of the true crime story of the Phantom Whistler of Louisiana. Following that we meet the protagonist, Henry Hotard, whose story unfolds across two different timelines. In one timeline, Henry is an ambitious 23-year-old running a ghost hunter YouTube channel with his devoted girlfriend, Jade, and best friend, Toad. They collaborate on his videos until a fateful day when their investigation takes them to the wrong site... and somebody whistles…
Whether the cause is supernatural or merely a cruel twist of fate, Henry sustains an accident that results in his becoming a quadriplegic. These events are narrated in the alternating chapters of the book. Now resentful and completely dependent on his grandparents, he directs his anger at both Jade and Toad, harboring suspicions that the two are developing a romantic relationship.
Thankfully, the use of a quadriplegic character serves as more than a convenient plot device. Author Nick Medina has taken great pains to go into the character’s psyche, interviewing subjects to provide insight into the challenges they face. The bond between Henry and Rhett, another quadriplegic who cautiously mentors him at a rehabilitation center, is particularly compelling.
Henry is difficult to like. He is a dick. While his initial manipulative behavior is off-putting, even his subsequent, more comprehensible demeanor is difficult to bear. Fortunately, the story maintains momentum—especially as patience with Henry wanes—through the rising tension of an inevitable confrontation, amplified by the presence of a menacing entity, whether it exists in reality or solely in his mind. And trust me, you want to stick around for the end.
Interspersed between chapters is the lore about Double-Face, or Two-Face, including the parable "The Boy With Two Faces," which serves as a foreshadowing element. The work also establishes a connection to two of Medina’s previous books, “Sisters of the Lost Nation” and “Indian Burial Ground.” Readers of “Indian Burial Ground” will finally learn the reason behind Roddy’s actions—why he jumped in front of that truck—but that is just a bonus. This does work perfectly well as a stand-alone, although it is fun to see where the stories intersect.
Nick Medina's "The Whistler" blends ancient folklore with the modern world. The novel's fictional horror, if you are a non-believer, is deeply connected to the very real pain of losing personal control and autonomy. The chilling presence of whatever the whistle summons is out there, not just on the fictional Takoda reservation, but out in the darkness of the real world.
Thank you to the Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheWhistler #NetGalley
October 18, 2025
Never whistle at night, he whispered. Don't you know it attracts bad things? Bad spirits. Evil attaches itself to you.
Medina crafts an fine tale that invokes uncertainty along with slow, creeping dread when a paraplegic ghost-hunter finds he's unable to rid himself of an evil spirit he may have summoned.
Is any of this real, or just a product of the main character's imagination?
This is another solid, eerie novel by an author who's worth adding to your to-read list.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing, though my review is of the finished hardback.
Medina crafts an fine tale that invokes uncertainty along with slow, creeping dread when a paraplegic ghost-hunter finds he's unable to rid himself of an evil spirit he may have summoned.
Is any of this real, or just a product of the main character's imagination?
This is another solid, eerie novel by an author who's worth adding to your to-read list.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing, though my review is of the finished hardback.
August 24, 2025
3.5 Stars
As someone who loves horror and indigenous fiction, I have enjoyed reading through this author's publications over the last several years. I have generally enjoyed all of his books but it's been particularly great to see his growth as an author. This was an engaging story in a narrative that was easy to engage with from the first chapter. Technically this book leans into familiar plot points and tropes but yet I never noticed, or at least never minded.
The novel plays it safe but it still made for an easy fun reading experience. I would recommend it to readers looking for a fun supernatural story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As someone who loves horror and indigenous fiction, I have enjoyed reading through this author's publications over the last several years. I have generally enjoyed all of his books but it's been particularly great to see his growth as an author. This was an engaging story in a narrative that was easy to engage with from the first chapter. Technically this book leans into familiar plot points and tropes but yet I never noticed, or at least never minded.
The novel plays it safe but it still made for an easy fun reading experience. I would recommend it to readers looking for a fun supernatural story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
October 6, 2025
In the early dawn of horror, the feather has scribbled over ink that has dried overnight. The dedication of the author to pose a tale of torment leaves much to be deliberated & interpreted. The reader, longing for something sweet, like an orange fresh from the snapping twig, will curl their snarl into a smile, hopeful for what is to come. So, too, had I sat with my eagerness after I learnt that Medina had written a new story. I pen this review with a sorrow that is distinguishable by its sulking disappointment; this story left me wanting everything that it did not have to offer. As can sometimes be the case, I find that the target reader is no mirror image of myself & is rather a wanderer of the realm of nightmares from the dreamland where Nemo sits surrounded by soft clouds.
I begin this review with the cruel acknowledgement that Medina has returned to his earlier style. When I first discovered the author, it was via his second book, “Indian Burial Ground” (2024); a story that penned a terribly morose narrative about grief, loss, self-harm, & sorrow. I was so pleased by the torment of a grovelling devil in the night that I eagerly sought out his first novel, “Sisters of the Lost Nation” (2023).
What I want to highlight via these comparisons is that Medina’s distinct style appeases the genre of morbid Literary Fiction more so than it does that of Horror. Indeed, Medina’s skill is in bringing his characters to life. Although they have quirks & quips the likes of which will disgruntle even the most patient of readers, their essential nature makes them real.
I can hardly say that I took a chance on this third book. In truth, the moment I saw mention that Medina would be publishing another novel, I was eager to devour it for myself. As a cannibal over the lush landscape of the familiar, I grovelled over the porous desire that I might be given the opportunity for an early read. My lucky stars were aligned & the novel fell into my greedy hands & without waiting much longer than necessary, only so long as to finish the book I had in hand, I began poring through the pages of the haunt Medina had crafted.
In essence, this is a story about despair. Henry is a budding you man; eager to fornicate with his long-term love interest, get drunk, make spooky videos he publishes on YouTube, & daydream of being a renowned figure in popular culture. Henry’s character is oddly shaped; he reads as very young, but indeed any reader, such as me, who is older than Henry will require some extra patience as Henry maneuvers his way through the real world—a place he has remained sheltered from. This seems an odd observation, as Henry is not twelve years old. Yet, the main character appeases the immature vagabond spirit of the West, who imagine themselves grand & great simply because of their age & gender.
Henry’s desires shape the narrative. The plot is split into two: the examination of the past, notably the lead-up to the event that resulted in Henry becoming paralyzed from the chest down, & the second portion taking place in the present as Henry adjusts to life following his accident.
This is a curious approach & one that I did appreciate. However, the nature of the story itself left me unsatisfied. That is to say, this book is not a horror; it is not scary or spooky. Although I note that every genre, particularly horror, will be subject to the experiences & impressions of each person, Henry’s story is one of exploring the frustrating reality of a young man who has become paralyzed & whose dreams are crushed. The story is not about ghosts & goblins or paranormal oddities. These aspects play a sneaking secondary role to the main subject of the story.
Should a reader endeavour to eagerly read this book as I did, they may, too, find themselves disappointed by the story. That is not to say that there is no place for a story that explores the harsh reality of a person whose entire life is upended by circumstance, but rather that this book was sold as a horror & it, in no way, delivered on its promise.
Indeed, the story features what Henry would call fake & fostered horrors. Henry’s YouTube channel features the exploration of haunted locations around town, but for a person who has lived within the real world, the twist curved like a Twizzler far sooner than Henry’s courage allows him to admit.
Henry’s online persona has been fabricated to gain notoriety. The haunted locations he explores with his friends, where they encounter signs from the paranormal, are each imagined & well-crafted situations that Henry has put in place. Surely, a person who has lived with the internet as long as I have will appreciate that this is a common occurrence. As the prevalence of Artificial Intelligence grows, this phenomenon will increase as well. Therefore, I note that what Henry has undertaken, although corny, speaks to a real desire that many people foster to become recognized & receive validation from their community, whether those familiar with them or strangers.
Unfortunately, during one of Henry’s escapades, whereby he tortures an unsuspecting victim with a fabricated haunting, the victim in question dies. This situation is difficult to describe as it comes out of left field. The reader who has consumed each of Medina’s books will have become familiar with his cast of characters. In his typical style, Medina has included the community of his imagined world, one that reflects reality, into this third book, too. It felt comforting to meet familiar names & locations once more. I appreciate the effort Medina has put forward into crafting a full-scope world where the individuals the reader meets become tangible creatures of a life that resembles their own.
Because of this familiar setting, the resolution of the mystery surrounding some of the occurrences might leave one unsettled or even disappointed. I admit that I was rather disgusted by Henry’s decision to abandon his friend at the side of the road. It seems cruel, in the very worst way, to see one’s friend suffer such a fate, only to think selfishly about the way this event will impact one’s person. Why didn’t Henry stay? Knowing as one does that the demonic occurrences were fake, what would have led Henry to believe that he needed to abandon Roddy?
The narrative seems to indicate that Henry is less than a stellar person. He prioritizes everything that might benefit him & rarely thinks of the repercussions, nor does he worry about those around him. Throughout his friendship with Toad, Henry longs for the sidekick that would fill the shoes of Shaggy from the popular cartoon, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969).
With Jade, Henry is content to get his rocks off & feel pride in what others will deduce from his entanglement. Juxtaposed by this approach, Medina’s writing feels passionate & intentional, leaving me confused by Henry’s utter shell of a soul. I wonder whether this is intentional.
As noted earlier, the story’s focus is on Henry. He is a character who is difficult to appreciate & I would not fault a reader who finds their patience waning as Henry covets the same frustrating judgments redundantly. What exacerbates this expression is the lack of actual horror elements. Surely, the story presents a few intriguing factoids that might entice a reader to believe that the book will offer them the scare of a lifetime. Yet, the initial scenario of a mass murder is not enough to compensate for hundreds of pages of complaints.
Although it sounds as though I do not care about Henry’s situation, the opposite is true. I firmly believe that had the novel been advertised as one more aligned with the direction of the story, the core messaging would not have been undervalued. The few scenarios wherein a paranormal occurrence takes place cannot soften the blow of the tedium that surrounds them.
A whistle in the night, the tune of a lullaby, neither of which lasts longer than a second, do not present seasoned readers with anything worth their while. Therefore, I wonder what the draw was in cataloguing the book in this way. One may note that the haunting that occurs is that which consumed Henry, specifically, the lies he tells eat him up inside.
The guilt that festers within Henry leaves him with a reptilian growth at the back of his head. This denotes another in the few scenes wherein a paranormal occurrence—a haunting, a fright—takes place, but it is too late. Henry’s confession that he abandoned Roddy, faked his YouTube videos, he was cruel & mean to his loved ones cannot compensate for the void that has grown between the reader & this story.
What Henry has to say is important. It is important to understand the realities of people who lose something that they once thought a permanent in their lives. Yet, instead of granting Henry the chance to explore his feelings & the avenues he had to adventure, the story allows Henry to continue to be selfish & then the story is done.
Ultimately, I found this book to be greatly disappointing. I found Hery to be a bore of a character who spent every waking hour belittling other people. His paralysis is a cruel twist of fate. I cannot begrudge him his anger, nor will I ramble about his need to grow beyond his circumstances; this is not my place.
What I will do is highlight the need for publishers to be more exacting when dedicating a story to a specific genre. There are ample stories that veer through the spectrum of horror & no one book will be beloved by all. The sub-categories of each genre allow a reader to find the book that they will adore. This book is void of terror or fear, other than that which lives in Henry’s heart as a result of his circumstances.
I wanted more. I wanted the creeping terror of the demonic whistler in the night, but he never came. Where has terror gone? Does terror live only in the imagination, or is it tangible?
Medina’s style is well-represented in this novel; for readers who have become fanatics of his work, this third book may surely be beloved by them. I will, kindly & respectfully, hold out hope that the fourth time will be a charm & the thunder of a beating heart consumed by worry & fear may feature in the next, of what I wish to be, a long series of books by the author himself.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, & Nick Medina for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I begin this review with the cruel acknowledgement that Medina has returned to his earlier style. When I first discovered the author, it was via his second book, “Indian Burial Ground” (2024); a story that penned a terribly morose narrative about grief, loss, self-harm, & sorrow. I was so pleased by the torment of a grovelling devil in the night that I eagerly sought out his first novel, “Sisters of the Lost Nation” (2023).
What I want to highlight via these comparisons is that Medina’s distinct style appeases the genre of morbid Literary Fiction more so than it does that of Horror. Indeed, Medina’s skill is in bringing his characters to life. Although they have quirks & quips the likes of which will disgruntle even the most patient of readers, their essential nature makes them real.
I can hardly say that I took a chance on this third book. In truth, the moment I saw mention that Medina would be publishing another novel, I was eager to devour it for myself. As a cannibal over the lush landscape of the familiar, I grovelled over the porous desire that I might be given the opportunity for an early read. My lucky stars were aligned & the novel fell into my greedy hands & without waiting much longer than necessary, only so long as to finish the book I had in hand, I began poring through the pages of the haunt Medina had crafted.
In essence, this is a story about despair. Henry is a budding you man; eager to fornicate with his long-term love interest, get drunk, make spooky videos he publishes on YouTube, & daydream of being a renowned figure in popular culture. Henry’s character is oddly shaped; he reads as very young, but indeed any reader, such as me, who is older than Henry will require some extra patience as Henry maneuvers his way through the real world—a place he has remained sheltered from. This seems an odd observation, as Henry is not twelve years old. Yet, the main character appeases the immature vagabond spirit of the West, who imagine themselves grand & great simply because of their age & gender.
Henry’s desires shape the narrative. The plot is split into two: the examination of the past, notably the lead-up to the event that resulted in Henry becoming paralyzed from the chest down, & the second portion taking place in the present as Henry adjusts to life following his accident.
This is a curious approach & one that I did appreciate. However, the nature of the story itself left me unsatisfied. That is to say, this book is not a horror; it is not scary or spooky. Although I note that every genre, particularly horror, will be subject to the experiences & impressions of each person, Henry’s story is one of exploring the frustrating reality of a young man who has become paralyzed & whose dreams are crushed. The story is not about ghosts & goblins or paranormal oddities. These aspects play a sneaking secondary role to the main subject of the story.
Should a reader endeavour to eagerly read this book as I did, they may, too, find themselves disappointed by the story. That is not to say that there is no place for a story that explores the harsh reality of a person whose entire life is upended by circumstance, but rather that this book was sold as a horror & it, in no way, delivered on its promise.
Indeed, the story features what Henry would call fake & fostered horrors. Henry’s YouTube channel features the exploration of haunted locations around town, but for a person who has lived within the real world, the twist curved like a Twizzler far sooner than Henry’s courage allows him to admit.
Henry’s online persona has been fabricated to gain notoriety. The haunted locations he explores with his friends, where they encounter signs from the paranormal, are each imagined & well-crafted situations that Henry has put in place. Surely, a person who has lived with the internet as long as I have will appreciate that this is a common occurrence. As the prevalence of Artificial Intelligence grows, this phenomenon will increase as well. Therefore, I note that what Henry has undertaken, although corny, speaks to a real desire that many people foster to become recognized & receive validation from their community, whether those familiar with them or strangers.
Unfortunately, during one of Henry’s escapades, whereby he tortures an unsuspecting victim with a fabricated haunting, the victim in question dies. This situation is difficult to describe as it comes out of left field. The reader who has consumed each of Medina’s books will have become familiar with his cast of characters. In his typical style, Medina has included the community of his imagined world, one that reflects reality, into this third book, too. It felt comforting to meet familiar names & locations once more. I appreciate the effort Medina has put forward into crafting a full-scope world where the individuals the reader meets become tangible creatures of a life that resembles their own.
Because of this familiar setting, the resolution of the mystery surrounding some of the occurrences might leave one unsettled or even disappointed. I admit that I was rather disgusted by Henry’s decision to abandon his friend at the side of the road. It seems cruel, in the very worst way, to see one’s friend suffer such a fate, only to think selfishly about the way this event will impact one’s person. Why didn’t Henry stay? Knowing as one does that the demonic occurrences were fake, what would have led Henry to believe that he needed to abandon Roddy?
The narrative seems to indicate that Henry is less than a stellar person. He prioritizes everything that might benefit him & rarely thinks of the repercussions, nor does he worry about those around him. Throughout his friendship with Toad, Henry longs for the sidekick that would fill the shoes of Shaggy from the popular cartoon, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969).
With Jade, Henry is content to get his rocks off & feel pride in what others will deduce from his entanglement. Juxtaposed by this approach, Medina’s writing feels passionate & intentional, leaving me confused by Henry’s utter shell of a soul. I wonder whether this is intentional.
As noted earlier, the story’s focus is on Henry. He is a character who is difficult to appreciate & I would not fault a reader who finds their patience waning as Henry covets the same frustrating judgments redundantly. What exacerbates this expression is the lack of actual horror elements. Surely, the story presents a few intriguing factoids that might entice a reader to believe that the book will offer them the scare of a lifetime. Yet, the initial scenario of a mass murder is not enough to compensate for hundreds of pages of complaints.
Although it sounds as though I do not care about Henry’s situation, the opposite is true. I firmly believe that had the novel been advertised as one more aligned with the direction of the story, the core messaging would not have been undervalued. The few scenarios wherein a paranormal occurrence takes place cannot soften the blow of the tedium that surrounds them.
A whistle in the night, the tune of a lullaby, neither of which lasts longer than a second, do not present seasoned readers with anything worth their while. Therefore, I wonder what the draw was in cataloguing the book in this way. One may note that the haunting that occurs is that which consumed Henry, specifically, the lies he tells eat him up inside.
The guilt that festers within Henry leaves him with a reptilian growth at the back of his head. This denotes another in the few scenes wherein a paranormal occurrence—a haunting, a fright—takes place, but it is too late. Henry’s confession that he abandoned Roddy, faked his YouTube videos, he was cruel & mean to his loved ones cannot compensate for the void that has grown between the reader & this story.
What Henry has to say is important. It is important to understand the realities of people who lose something that they once thought a permanent in their lives. Yet, instead of granting Henry the chance to explore his feelings & the avenues he had to adventure, the story allows Henry to continue to be selfish & then the story is done.
Ultimately, I found this book to be greatly disappointing. I found Hery to be a bore of a character who spent every waking hour belittling other people. His paralysis is a cruel twist of fate. I cannot begrudge him his anger, nor will I ramble about his need to grow beyond his circumstances; this is not my place.
What I will do is highlight the need for publishers to be more exacting when dedicating a story to a specific genre. There are ample stories that veer through the spectrum of horror & no one book will be beloved by all. The sub-categories of each genre allow a reader to find the book that they will adore. This book is void of terror or fear, other than that which lives in Henry’s heart as a result of his circumstances.
I wanted more. I wanted the creeping terror of the demonic whistler in the night, but he never came. Where has terror gone? Does terror live only in the imagination, or is it tangible?
Medina’s style is well-represented in this novel; for readers who have become fanatics of his work, this third book may surely be beloved by them. I will, kindly & respectfully, hold out hope that the fourth time will be a charm & the thunder of a beating heart consumed by worry & fear may feature in the next, of what I wish to be, a long series of books by the author himself.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, & Nick Medina for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2025
ARC for review. To be published September 16, 2025.
3 stars
Henry Hotard is a young man who lives just off the Takoda Indian Reservation, and it was his original home: vHe now lives with his girlfriend, Jade. He, Jade and his best friend, Toad were getting some traction on Henry’s ghost hunting You Tube channel when a terrible incident occurred. Now Henry lives with his grandparents (the fabulous Pawpaw Mac and Mawmaw Tilly) caring for him. I just realized that there’s never information about what Henry does for money.
Anyway, Henry believes that he is being haunted and that it stems from an old tale and from an old superstition about whistling at night.
Apparently Medina writes quite a bit about Natuve American characters, but, actually, there’s not a lot of NA content here, other than the proximity of the reservation and my assumption that, at least, Henry, Pawpaw and Mawmaw are members of the tribe. The horror story is very scattered, but overall I liked the book.
3 stars
Henry Hotard is a young man who lives just off the Takoda Indian Reservation, and it was his original home: vHe now lives with his girlfriend, Jade. He, Jade and his best friend, Toad were getting some traction on Henry’s ghost hunting You Tube channel when a terrible incident occurred. Now Henry lives with his grandparents (the fabulous Pawpaw Mac and Mawmaw Tilly) caring for him. I just realized that there’s never information about what Henry does for money.
Anyway, Henry believes that he is being haunted and that it stems from an old tale and from an old superstition about whistling at night.
Apparently Medina writes quite a bit about Natuve American characters, but, actually, there’s not a lot of NA content here, other than the proximity of the reservation and my assumption that, at least, Henry, Pawpaw and Mawmaw are members of the tribe. The horror story is very scattered, but overall I liked the book.
June 9, 2025
This book had me on the edge of my seat for the several days I enjoyed reading it. I took my time to savor the storyline and terrifying events. And the characters! They all felt so alive and fleshed out. I wish I could meet them. The story comes together in such a beautiful and profound way. The book exceeded my expectations and I already want to read it again. I definitely recommend reading this - you won’t regret it!
Thank you to NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review..
Thank you to NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review..
September 17, 2025
Nick Medina returns with another haunting novel steeped in Native superstitions and legends. The Whistler dives deep into the terrifying consequences of ignoring age-old warnings. The prologue sets the tone with full-force supernatural horror — a grisly tale illustrating the disastrous results of breaking the taboo against whistling at night, which summons evil spirits who can control your life. From there, the main story follows twenty-four-year-old Henry, a man haunted by a mythological presence that is methodically stripping away everything he loves. Dark, intense, and chilling, The Whistler had me looking over my shoulder and jumping at every strange sound. And while I don’t consider myself superstitious, I can say with certainty: I will never whistle at night again.
The novel unfolds in a past/present structure through Henry’s point of view. Readers see him at the height of his happiness, on the cusp of achieving his dreams; we then witness the tragic accident that changed his life forever, confining him to a wheelchair, and his struggle to adapt to this new reality. The timeline shifts — from the horrifying prologue set in the infamous Cadow house, where young Jacqueline’s careless whistle unleashed something monstrous, to Henry’s current struggles, and then back again — may feel disorienting at first. But as connections between the legend of the Cadow house and Henry’s fate emerge, the pieces begin to lock into place. Medina uses superstition and myth not just as atmosphere, but as the framework for the story itself.
To avoid spoilers, I’ll just say that Medina has crafted an emotional, tightly woven tale blending Native lore with a compelling plot and unforgettable, three-dimensional characters. His skill lies in making legends feel alive — not just terrifying, but deeply personal to those caught in their grip.
Readers of Medina’s Indian Burial Ground will find an added layer of richness here. While The Whistler focuses on different characters and mysteries, it picks up threads from that novel — including the fate of Roddy — making it feel like a loose sequel. That said, prior knowledge isn’t required; this book stands firmly on its own.
The Whistler is unsettling and atmospheric, exploring themes of fate, acceptance, reckoning with the past, and the devastating price of ignoring warnings. Medina handles Henry’s life as a paraplegic with nuance, portraying both the physical and emotional toll on him and his family. Once again, he shines in weaving Native legends with the modern struggles of Indigenous communities living on reservations. That said, I found this book leaned more heavily into outright horror than Medina’s earlier work. The abundance of shocking, gory detail sometimes overshadowed the cultural elements I hoped would take center stage. But horror fans who crave visceral scares and don’t mind blood-soaked imagery will find this utterly engrossing. Ultimately, The Whistler is a dark, gripping tale that fuses legend, fear, and tragedy into a story you won’t soon forget. Highly recommended for fans of horror and supernatural thrillers.
Much appreciation to Berkley Publ. for a complimentary arc of this title for review and for the blog tour invite. Opinions expressed are my own. My full review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
The novel unfolds in a past/present structure through Henry’s point of view. Readers see him at the height of his happiness, on the cusp of achieving his dreams; we then witness the tragic accident that changed his life forever, confining him to a wheelchair, and his struggle to adapt to this new reality. The timeline shifts — from the horrifying prologue set in the infamous Cadow house, where young Jacqueline’s careless whistle unleashed something monstrous, to Henry’s current struggles, and then back again — may feel disorienting at first. But as connections between the legend of the Cadow house and Henry’s fate emerge, the pieces begin to lock into place. Medina uses superstition and myth not just as atmosphere, but as the framework for the story itself.
To avoid spoilers, I’ll just say that Medina has crafted an emotional, tightly woven tale blending Native lore with a compelling plot and unforgettable, three-dimensional characters. His skill lies in making legends feel alive — not just terrifying, but deeply personal to those caught in their grip.
Readers of Medina’s Indian Burial Ground will find an added layer of richness here. While The Whistler focuses on different characters and mysteries, it picks up threads from that novel — including the fate of Roddy — making it feel like a loose sequel. That said, prior knowledge isn’t required; this book stands firmly on its own.
The Whistler is unsettling and atmospheric, exploring themes of fate, acceptance, reckoning with the past, and the devastating price of ignoring warnings. Medina handles Henry’s life as a paraplegic with nuance, portraying both the physical and emotional toll on him and his family. Once again, he shines in weaving Native legends with the modern struggles of Indigenous communities living on reservations. That said, I found this book leaned more heavily into outright horror than Medina’s earlier work. The abundance of shocking, gory detail sometimes overshadowed the cultural elements I hoped would take center stage. But horror fans who crave visceral scares and don’t mind blood-soaked imagery will find this utterly engrossing. Ultimately, The Whistler is a dark, gripping tale that fuses legend, fear, and tragedy into a story you won’t soon forget. Highly recommended for fans of horror and supernatural thrillers.
Much appreciation to Berkley Publ. for a complimentary arc of this title for review and for the blog tour invite. Opinions expressed are my own. My full review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
October 2, 2025
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 10 hours 53 minutes
🎤: Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Format: Single POV/Timeline
The narrator did a fantastic job convey emotion. I never had to adjust my speed and kept a reasonable tempo through throughout the narration. I really enjoyed the way. The characters were portrayed by the single narrator.
Themes:
😗: Honesty
😗: Importance of friends and family
😗: Embracing Change
😗: Independance
Representation:
🔈: Indigenous characters
🔈: Reservation Setting
🔈: Indigenous mythology
Tropes:
💗: Ghost Hunting
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: domestic violence **check authors page/socials for full list.
General Thoughts:
This was an extremely good book. Both a mixture of emotion and terror. You absolutely feel bad for Henry throughout the novel. Although I did get feelings from time to time that Henry was meant to be a somewhat unlikable character (maybe this was just me) but ultimately, I felt that need to root for him.
You go through a whole range of emotions with Henry as he adjusts to his new normal and accepts that his life will be different than he intended it to be. I absolutely was shocked by the twist at the end. I did not find this to be predictable and I definitely enjoyed the mystery that was shrouded around this creepy horror novel. It absolutely kept me engaged throughout.
I did enjoy the bits of folklore that were woven throughout the narration. I had never heard these indigenous stories before, and I appreciated them. I feel like they gave a lot of context to the story that I was reading.
Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through PRH Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
⏰: 10 hours 53 minutes
🎤: Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Format: Single POV/Timeline
The narrator did a fantastic job convey emotion. I never had to adjust my speed and kept a reasonable tempo through throughout the narration. I really enjoyed the way. The characters were portrayed by the single narrator.
Themes:
😗: Honesty
😗: Importance of friends and family
😗: Embracing Change
😗: Independance
Representation:
🔈: Indigenous characters
🔈: Reservation Setting
🔈: Indigenous mythology
Tropes:
💗: Ghost Hunting
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: domestic violence **check authors page/socials for full list.
General Thoughts:
This was an extremely good book. Both a mixture of emotion and terror. You absolutely feel bad for Henry throughout the novel. Although I did get feelings from time to time that Henry was meant to be a somewhat unlikable character (maybe this was just me) but ultimately, I felt that need to root for him.
You go through a whole range of emotions with Henry as he adjusts to his new normal and accepts that his life will be different than he intended it to be. I absolutely was shocked by the twist at the end. I did not find this to be predictable and I definitely enjoyed the mystery that was shrouded around this creepy horror novel. It absolutely kept me engaged throughout.
I did enjoy the bits of folklore that were woven throughout the narration. I had never heard these indigenous stories before, and I appreciated them. I feel like they gave a lot of context to the story that I was reading.
Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through PRH Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 28, 2025
Once again, Nick Medina wows me with his impeccable writing. This story starts out with a gruesome bang and I was hooked. If I didn’t have so much going on in the two weeks that I was reading this, I could’ve finished in one sitting. The way that Medina weaves the supernatural horror elements with real life tragedies and horrors is so seamless and thought provoking. I never would’ve understood the challenges that quadriplegics face in such detail had it not been for this book, and I love that we were educated not only on the physical challenges that are faced, but also the emotional toll it can take. This was handled with such care and I appreciate how it was presented in this story.
I will admit that Henry enraged me in the beginning with his carelessness and his selfish need to push those he loved for his own gain. But I also see how that contributed to the extreme change he faced after his accident and how that selfishness came back to haunt him when he realized how much he lost. You feel so much for him and his friends and family as they all face the impact of his lies and two faced persona.
The whistling moments were TERRIFYING. I’ve always heard the “don’t whistle at night” lore from a young age and is something I was never apt to mess with, even for shits and giggles. Those moments played into real life fears and made it hard to read this at night without getting skin crawling chills. With that being said, I wanted a little more of those moments honestly. I didn’t feel like we got enough. But despite that, I still think this was an incredible book! I hope there’s more coming from this author in the future. I will continue to eat his work up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
I will admit that Henry enraged me in the beginning with his carelessness and his selfish need to push those he loved for his own gain. But I also see how that contributed to the extreme change he faced after his accident and how that selfishness came back to haunt him when he realized how much he lost. You feel so much for him and his friends and family as they all face the impact of his lies and two faced persona.
The whistling moments were TERRIFYING. I’ve always heard the “don’t whistle at night” lore from a young age and is something I was never apt to mess with, even for shits and giggles. Those moments played into real life fears and made it hard to read this at night without getting skin crawling chills. With that being said, I wanted a little more of those moments honestly. I didn’t feel like we got enough. But despite that, I still think this was an incredible book! I hope there’s more coming from this author in the future. I will continue to eat his work up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 17, 2025
Wow, I really enjoyed this newest from Indigenous horror author Nick Medina!! It follows Henry Hotard, a Louisana ghost-hunter who was becoming famous before a car acccident left him paralyzed as a quadriplegic and who is now living back on the Reservation with his Grandparents while he tries to recover.
He also thinks he's being haunted by a creepy spirit making this a great #SpookySeason read with a fantastic cast of characters (some recurring from past books) and sprinkled throughout are various 'first-hand' accounts of Indigenous legends told through flashbacks to interviews Henry and his friends conducted before his accident. This was great on audio narrated by Shaun Taylor-Corbett and highly atmospheric!!
The disability rep was amazingly well done. The author consulted actual people living with paralysis and adequately shows that no two experiences are the same. Henry grapples with the loss of the life he thought he would have and struggles with learning to accept his new reality. I really liked the conversations he has with other quadri and paraplegics in the story.
Highly recommended for fans of authors like Stephen Graham Jones or Erika T. Wurth!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a #gifted physical copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
He also thinks he's being haunted by a creepy spirit making this a great #SpookySeason read with a fantastic cast of characters (some recurring from past books) and sprinkled throughout are various 'first-hand' accounts of Indigenous legends told through flashbacks to interviews Henry and his friends conducted before his accident. This was great on audio narrated by Shaun Taylor-Corbett and highly atmospheric!!
The disability rep was amazingly well done. The author consulted actual people living with paralysis and adequately shows that no two experiences are the same. Henry grapples with the loss of the life he thought he would have and struggles with learning to accept his new reality. I really liked the conversations he has with other quadri and paraplegics in the story.
Highly recommended for fans of authors like Stephen Graham Jones or Erika T. Wurth!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a #gifted physical copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
September 18, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Nick Medina's The Whistler. Below is my honest review.
I really liked this one! It had great build up, weaving the current time (after the INCIDENT) and the past (before the INCIDENT), dropping hints the whole time about what was going on. The characters had depth, and you could feel the weight of their histories in the story. Medina did a great job making me care about them all.
I also really loved the connections to Medina's other stories, entirely unexpected but fully welcome. Great little surprises!
I think my only complaint is that there is a little bit of pacing work to be done, as there are some scary parts but it needed MORE scary.
All in all, highly recommended.
I really liked this one! It had great build up, weaving the current time (after the INCIDENT) and the past (before the INCIDENT), dropping hints the whole time about what was going on. The characters had depth, and you could feel the weight of their histories in the story. Medina did a great job making me care about them all.
I also really loved the connections to Medina's other stories, entirely unexpected but fully welcome. Great little surprises!
I think my only complaint is that there is a little bit of pacing work to be done, as there are some scary parts but it needed MORE scary.
All in all, highly recommended.
September 26, 2025
With the way this starts off, I was hoping for some eerie, creepy whistling action... instead you don't get it. You get whistling, but the other two, no where to be seen.
While the story was good, if you go in with the intent of being scared, you will not be. Not even the slightest. Not even my mom who reads nothing but romances would be scared.
While the story was good, if you go in with the intent of being scared, you will not be. Not even the slightest. Not even my mom who reads nothing but romances would be scared.
November 17, 2025
This book didn't work for me. A recent paraplegic, Nick is a miserable, complaining, unlikeable and ungrateful human being. He is surrounded by loving supportive family and friends attempting to make his new normal a reality he can accept; but he continues to thwart all their efforts. To make matters worse he whistled at night (a no-no) in Native American culture and is now being stalked by a supernatural entity who wants to steal all that Nick loves. This is the second book from Mr Medina about Nick and his friends. The first was pre-injury. I didn't read it, maybe it was better.
I enjoy books about Native Americans and their history, folklore and belief systems, but I found character Nick pretty insufferable. My favorite book in this genre is "Shutter" by Ramona Emerson. Her main character is Rita Todacheene, a Navajo forensic photographer who can see ghosts of crime victims causing her no end of problems. I look forward to reading her latest book Exposure (2024). I'll pass up more Medina books.
2 stars
I enjoy books about Native Americans and their history, folklore and belief systems, but I found character Nick pretty insufferable. My favorite book in this genre is "Shutter" by Ramona Emerson. Her main character is Rita Todacheene, a Navajo forensic photographer who can see ghosts of crime victims causing her no end of problems. I look forward to reading her latest book Exposure (2024). I'll pass up more Medina books.
2 stars
December 7, 2025
"Life is never what you think. That's what he's learned. You can shape it, mold it, force it, and tweak it until it looks and feels right, but a point will come when you realize all the effort has been for naught, because hidden in the life you've been building is a ticking time bomb attached to a fuse you didn't realize you were trying to keep from igniting."
I'm a fan of Nick Medina's intelligent horror/suspense novels. This one took a different departure from the previous ones, though it's connected. Sort of a prequel and sequel, hard to pull off but he does so with seeming ease.
I had a family member with cerebral palsy who was wheelchair bound. So I could totally relate to the daily struggle of Henry, a young ghost hunter whose bravado leads to tragedy and life in a wheelchair. Medina's characters are a bit more rough around the edges than in the previous novels, and this is highlighted at the beginning, but if the reader sticks with the book, you'll be rewarded with a more thoughtful exploration of human character within the confines of a ghost story. 4.5 stars.
A 5 for the opening quote.
I look forward to the next one.
Trigger warnings: gore, drug use
I'm a fan of Nick Medina's intelligent horror/suspense novels. This one took a different departure from the previous ones, though it's connected. Sort of a prequel and sequel, hard to pull off but he does so with seeming ease.
I had a family member with cerebral palsy who was wheelchair bound. So I could totally relate to the daily struggle of Henry, a young ghost hunter whose bravado leads to tragedy and life in a wheelchair. Medina's characters are a bit more rough around the edges than in the previous novels, and this is highlighted at the beginning, but if the reader sticks with the book, you'll be rewarded with a more thoughtful exploration of human character within the confines of a ghost story. 4.5 stars.
A 5 for the opening quote.
I look forward to the next one.
Trigger warnings: gore, drug use
December 12, 2025
“Author’s Note: the Whistler includes instances of ableism, body horror, blood and gore depictions, loss of autonomy, paralysis, and grief and loss depictions. Please listen with your best interests in mind.”
The Whistler is a horror novel about Henry Hotard, a ghost-hunting young man who becomes a quadriplegic after an accident, and is then haunted by a mythological specter, forcing him to confront his past and the cultural folklore surrounding whistling at night. The book blends supernatural horror with themes of disability, grief, and the realities of Indigenous life, featuring a dual timeline and characters from Medina's previous works Sisters of a Lost Nation and Indian Burial Ground. These two prior novels are not necessary to be read before reading this novel, and the three novels can be read in any order. They are all stand alones.
The supernatural aspects of the novel - especially the incredibly creepy whistling at night - really had me going. I was thrilled, as most horror novels don’t usually creep me out very much, if at all. But I felt that the ending of this novel was a bit of a let down, and it was all wrapped up in a sticky-sweet way, rather too HEA for my taste. I liked the characters, mainly Mawmaw and Pawpaw the most, and the dogs…. Which disappear at one point in the novel, with NO explanations given at all. Only one turns back up later on…. Again, with no explanations. So your guess is as good as mine.
Shaun Taylor-Corbett is the narrator for the audiobook version of this novel. I enjoyed Taylor-Corbett’s work in The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, last year. My library has 3 pages of his audiobook work available for us all to enjoy, so I hope to be able to listen to his great work again soon.
Thank you Books on Tape for making this audiobook, and giving voice to Indigenous authors, and Other Voices. That means a lot to me. Please keep making them!
3.5 stars, and recommended.
The Whistler is a horror novel about Henry Hotard, a ghost-hunting young man who becomes a quadriplegic after an accident, and is then haunted by a mythological specter, forcing him to confront his past and the cultural folklore surrounding whistling at night. The book blends supernatural horror with themes of disability, grief, and the realities of Indigenous life, featuring a dual timeline and characters from Medina's previous works Sisters of a Lost Nation and Indian Burial Ground. These two prior novels are not necessary to be read before reading this novel, and the three novels can be read in any order. They are all stand alones.
The supernatural aspects of the novel - especially the incredibly creepy whistling at night - really had me going. I was thrilled, as most horror novels don’t usually creep me out very much, if at all. But I felt that the ending of this novel was a bit of a let down, and it was all wrapped up in a sticky-sweet way, rather too HEA for my taste. I liked the characters, mainly Mawmaw and Pawpaw the most, and the dogs…. Which disappear at one point in the novel, with NO explanations given at all. Only one turns back up later on…. Again, with no explanations. So your guess is as good as mine.
Shaun Taylor-Corbett is the narrator for the audiobook version of this novel. I enjoyed Taylor-Corbett’s work in The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, last year. My library has 3 pages of his audiobook work available for us all to enjoy, so I hope to be able to listen to his great work again soon.
Thank you Books on Tape for making this audiobook, and giving voice to Indigenous authors, and Other Voices. That means a lot to me. Please keep making them!
3.5 stars, and recommended.
October 29, 2025
Henry Hotard is brash, a little lazy, and definitely does not believe in ghosts. But he's created a long running and reasonably popular video series where he and his friends hunt for ghosts.
At one of the locations they filmed, Henry mockingly invokes the Whistler, an entity that was supposed to have murdered an entire family, and whose presence is heralded by a haunting whistle.
Henry's ghost-hunting series brings him a little fame on the res and online, and he's subsequently interviewed by a local reporter. In a bid to keep the positive reviews coming, he convinces the reporter some time later to come with him to a location reputed to be haunted. Something terrible happens that night, with Henry ending up a quadriplegic and the reporter dead.
With his life completely different and restricted, and Henry is left depressed and angry. He does have his loving grandparents' help, and that of his girlfriend Jade and best friend Toad (his ghost-hunting buddies) for support. Though furious and resentful, they keep reminding him that he needs to rebuild his life, but in a new and different way.
When terrible things begin happening to people around Henry, he begins to wonder if something is stalking him, and the only way to deal with it is to confront who he was before his accident and deal with the many ways he hurt and let people down in the past.
This was eerie, and had moments that were definitely pretty spooky. Author Nick Medina not only builds great atmosphere, causing readers to wonder is there really something malevolent behind the recent troubles in his and his family's lives, or is it in his head? Adding to all this is Henry's immobility and the frustrations and fears this induces in him.
Medina leaves us to wonder for much of the novel, but that isn't a detriment. Instead, we get fantastic characters, as well as a portrayal of a young man who has to look deep within himself and his past actions and figure out who he now wants to be.
Medina's Whistler is a genuinely frightening creation, and the prologue to the story is pretty scary and tragic.
The novel also shines when laying out some of the daily and mundane aspects of quadriplegia in a way that are eye opening, and that help us really understand and empathize with Henry's feelings throughout the novel. This, despite Henry pre-accident being a pretty self-absorbed and sometimes manipulative guy who took advantage of the kindness of others a little too often.
I enjoyed this story a lot. This is the second book I've read by this author, and now I have to get to "India Burial Ground".
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
At one of the locations they filmed, Henry mockingly invokes the Whistler, an entity that was supposed to have murdered an entire family, and whose presence is heralded by a haunting whistle.
Henry's ghost-hunting series brings him a little fame on the res and online, and he's subsequently interviewed by a local reporter. In a bid to keep the positive reviews coming, he convinces the reporter some time later to come with him to a location reputed to be haunted. Something terrible happens that night, with Henry ending up a quadriplegic and the reporter dead.
With his life completely different and restricted, and Henry is left depressed and angry. He does have his loving grandparents' help, and that of his girlfriend Jade and best friend Toad (his ghost-hunting buddies) for support. Though furious and resentful, they keep reminding him that he needs to rebuild his life, but in a new and different way.
When terrible things begin happening to people around Henry, he begins to wonder if something is stalking him, and the only way to deal with it is to confront who he was before his accident and deal with the many ways he hurt and let people down in the past.
This was eerie, and had moments that were definitely pretty spooky. Author Nick Medina not only builds great atmosphere, causing readers to wonder is there really something malevolent behind the recent troubles in his and his family's lives, or is it in his head? Adding to all this is Henry's immobility and the frustrations and fears this induces in him.
Medina leaves us to wonder for much of the novel, but that isn't a detriment. Instead, we get fantastic characters, as well as a portrayal of a young man who has to look deep within himself and his past actions and figure out who he now wants to be.
Medina's Whistler is a genuinely frightening creation, and the prologue to the story is pretty scary and tragic.
The novel also shines when laying out some of the daily and mundane aspects of quadriplegia in a way that are eye opening, and that help us really understand and empathize with Henry's feelings throughout the novel. This, despite Henry pre-accident being a pretty self-absorbed and sometimes manipulative guy who took advantage of the kindness of others a little too often.
I enjoyed this story a lot. This is the second book I've read by this author, and now I have to get to "India Burial Ground".
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 7, 2025
The Whistler is a very interesting paranormal horror that takes you into the world of Indigenous lore and will give you second thoughts about every whistling at night! It is also is a story that deals with grief, overcoming trauma, and the dangers of lying.
I LOVED Nick Medina's storytelling with this novel because it was so close with the known and unknown that it has you really questioning what really happened to main character Henry the night everything changed. I also love Medina used a story of lore throughout the book to really tie both myth and reality together. It was just beautifully done.
I really enjoyed the storyline for The Whistler because I am fascinated by the idea of ghost hunting so I was excited to pick this one up. I enjoyed learning more about what happens behind the scenes and seeing the dangerous of ghost hunting
I enjoyed the cast of characters with their individual and unique personalities that made a tight knit group that reminded me of my friends from high school. Have to love nostalgia lol. I also loved the character growth of Henry throughout the novel. I was so invested in his story! I enjoyed crying with him, laughing with him, and even wanted to punch him a few times.
I highly recommend The Whistler to all my fellow horror fans, anyone interested in Native American lore, and/or anyone looking for a good ghost hunt.
I LOVED Nick Medina's storytelling with this novel because it was so close with the known and unknown that it has you really questioning what really happened to main character Henry the night everything changed. I also love Medina used a story of lore throughout the book to really tie both myth and reality together. It was just beautifully done.
I really enjoyed the storyline for The Whistler because I am fascinated by the idea of ghost hunting so I was excited to pick this one up. I enjoyed learning more about what happens behind the scenes and seeing the dangerous of ghost hunting
I enjoyed the cast of characters with their individual and unique personalities that made a tight knit group that reminded me of my friends from high school. Have to love nostalgia lol. I also loved the character growth of Henry throughout the novel. I was so invested in his story! I enjoyed crying with him, laughing with him, and even wanted to punch him a few times.
I highly recommend The Whistler to all my fellow horror fans, anyone interested in Native American lore, and/or anyone looking for a good ghost hunt.
December 23, 2025
Is the horror in the room with us?
July 5, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First, I wanna give credit where credit is due: I really enjoyed this book. I love flawed characters with slow realistic redemption arcs, and self journeys, which we get in spades via Henry. I love legends and folktales, and what Medina has done here is presenting one while making it feel real. I was tense reading this, it didn't feel like some unimaginable monster was waiting: it was genuine anxiety due to how immersive and subtle Medina was with his writing.
Even more impressing, I didn't know this was a companion novel to another of his works. That, to me, is the mark of a fantastic writer: writing a fleshed out emotional story with three dimensional characters, that completely stands on its own without prior knowledge or in text expedition of other connected works.
I do wish that the horror had been more....horror, though. This felt much more like a slow burn, psychological thriller and mystery with elements of horror sprinkled in. And trust, when the horror is there, it's brilliant. That is partly on me for expecting it to be full blown horror, because I wouldn't want to lose any of the subtlety Medina brings.
Formatting wise, it was confusing for the first few chapters because it goes from a prologue, to a traditional legend, then current day, then two years ago, back to another legend, back to the present. I had to look back and forth a few times before I realized this was going to be told from Henry's POV in the past and present, alternating. As the legend progressed I realized it was more of a framing device. I feel like some of that could be due to the format itself since this is an unedited ARC, and will be much more clear once it's tangible in print.
For these little nitpicks I give it a 4, really more of a 4.5. The only other aspect that brought more points down is that I REALLY wanted more wrap up for the Jacqueline Cadow tragedy at the beginning. That prologue is pure horror, and I wish we could have spent more time with the environment there, possibly from her boyfriend Gabe's point of view. It's mentioned later that he continued to live on the reservation, but aside from his appearance in the prologue we don't see him again. There's great potential there and I would love to see what his world was like and what he experienced after the opening tragedy. That might be in another book somewhere and I just don't know it, but either way I WANT Gabe's story.
It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize I had read short stories by Nick Medina before, and I'm eager to visit more of his novels. Definitely read the acknowledgements at the end, the care and respect he put into this is beautiful and admirable.
Check this one out, I know it's one I'll be purchasing once in print.
First, I wanna give credit where credit is due: I really enjoyed this book. I love flawed characters with slow realistic redemption arcs, and self journeys, which we get in spades via Henry. I love legends and folktales, and what Medina has done here is presenting one while making it feel real. I was tense reading this, it didn't feel like some unimaginable monster was waiting: it was genuine anxiety due to how immersive and subtle Medina was with his writing.
Even more impressing, I didn't know this was a companion novel to another of his works. That, to me, is the mark of a fantastic writer: writing a fleshed out emotional story with three dimensional characters, that completely stands on its own without prior knowledge or in text expedition of other connected works.
I do wish that the horror had been more....horror, though. This felt much more like a slow burn, psychological thriller and mystery with elements of horror sprinkled in. And trust, when the horror is there, it's brilliant. That is partly on me for expecting it to be full blown horror, because I wouldn't want to lose any of the subtlety Medina brings.
Formatting wise, it was confusing for the first few chapters because it goes from a prologue, to a traditional legend, then current day, then two years ago, back to another legend, back to the present. I had to look back and forth a few times before I realized this was going to be told from Henry's POV in the past and present, alternating. As the legend progressed I realized it was more of a framing device. I feel like some of that could be due to the format itself since this is an unedited ARC, and will be much more clear once it's tangible in print.
For these little nitpicks I give it a 4, really more of a 4.5. The only other aspect that brought more points down is that I REALLY wanted more wrap up for the Jacqueline Cadow tragedy at the beginning. That prologue is pure horror, and I wish we could have spent more time with the environment there, possibly from her boyfriend Gabe's point of view. It's mentioned later that he continued to live on the reservation, but aside from his appearance in the prologue we don't see him again. There's great potential there and I would love to see what his world was like and what he experienced after the opening tragedy. That might be in another book somewhere and I just don't know it, but either way I WANT Gabe's story.
It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize I had read short stories by Nick Medina before, and I'm eager to visit more of his novels. Definitely read the acknowledgements at the end, the care and respect he put into this is beautiful and admirable.
Check this one out, I know it's one I'll be purchasing once in print.
October 4, 2025
Review to come.
September 15, 2025
Book Review 📖🍂📸
thank you so much partner @berkleypub for the free book! #berkley #berkleypartner
The Whistler
by Nick Medina
About the book 👇🏽
Henry Hotard was on the verge of fame, gaining a following and traction with his eerie ghost-hunting videos. Then his dreams came to a screeching halt. Now, he's learning to navigate a new life in a wheelchair, back on the reservation where he grew up, relying on his grandparents’ care while he recovers.
And he’s being haunted.
His girlfriend, Jade, insists he just needs time to adjust to his new reality as a quadriplegic, that it’s his traumatized mind playing tricks on him, but Henry knows better. As the specter haunting him creeps closer each night, Henry battles to find a way to endure, to rid himself of the horror stalking him. Worried that this dread might plague him forever, he realizes the only way to exile his phantom is by confronting his troubled past and going back to the events that led to his injury.
It all started when he whistled at night....
🍂 My thoughts:
My goodness does that prologue sink its claws into you right off the bat! This is the second book I’ve read by Nick Medina and is now officially on my auto buy list. You do not need to read Indian Burial Ground to enjoy this book however, it was really cool to see these stories entwine! In similar fashion, this story is dark and supernatural and right up my alley. My favorite parts were definitely the flashbacks and will be yours too if you love ghost hunting shows or ghost stories. With the perfect mashup of horror rooting in tragedy and the paranormal, this is one you won’t be able to put down. If you love emotional darker reads and ghost stories, you’ll enjoy this one and it’s one I’d recommend! The Whistler is out tomorrow 9/16/25!
Happy reading 📖🍂
thank you so much partner @berkleypub for the free book! #berkley #berkleypartner
The Whistler
by Nick Medina
About the book 👇🏽
Henry Hotard was on the verge of fame, gaining a following and traction with his eerie ghost-hunting videos. Then his dreams came to a screeching halt. Now, he's learning to navigate a new life in a wheelchair, back on the reservation where he grew up, relying on his grandparents’ care while he recovers.
And he’s being haunted.
His girlfriend, Jade, insists he just needs time to adjust to his new reality as a quadriplegic, that it’s his traumatized mind playing tricks on him, but Henry knows better. As the specter haunting him creeps closer each night, Henry battles to find a way to endure, to rid himself of the horror stalking him. Worried that this dread might plague him forever, he realizes the only way to exile his phantom is by confronting his troubled past and going back to the events that led to his injury.
It all started when he whistled at night....
🍂 My thoughts:
My goodness does that prologue sink its claws into you right off the bat! This is the second book I’ve read by Nick Medina and is now officially on my auto buy list. You do not need to read Indian Burial Ground to enjoy this book however, it was really cool to see these stories entwine! In similar fashion, this story is dark and supernatural and right up my alley. My favorite parts were definitely the flashbacks and will be yours too if you love ghost hunting shows or ghost stories. With the perfect mashup of horror rooting in tragedy and the paranormal, this is one you won’t be able to put down. If you love emotional darker reads and ghost stories, you’ll enjoy this one and it’s one I’d recommend! The Whistler is out tomorrow 9/16/25!
Happy reading 📖🍂
July 15, 2025
Henry Hotard is trying to make it as a paranormal host of his own internet show. With the help of his girlfriend Jade and bestfriend Toad they are know as the Spirt Seekers, set out to uncover some of the spookest spots around Louisanna. The last place that they went to was to Jackie Cadow's house where she and her parents were found murdered fifty years ago after Jackie whistled at night. Now they are exploring the house which has been boarded up and untouched since the crime. As they enter into Jackie's bedroom and then open the closest door they hear the voice of a spirit which they assume is JAckie. Jade and Toad afraid run from the room while Henry is recording everything. Now over a year later Henry is paralyzed from the chest down, he is living with his grandparents back on the rez. He is isolating himself from both Jade and Toad and is keeping the biggest secret of his life when he starts to see shadows and hear the strange whistle. Now Henry thinks he is being haunted by the whistler and needs to make amends with his past in order to survive. This is the first novel that I read by Nick Medina and truely enjoyed it. My book club will be reading Sisters of the Lost Nation later this year and can't wait to introduce them to his novels. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Berkley for letting me read an advanced copy of this novel.
October 22, 2025
Just not very good innit. I think the only positive I can mention here is its scenes relating to disability, which are generally pulled off really well and powerfully.
But beyond that I find the writing overly simplistic, the characters somewhat flat, and the plot a bit of a mess. I think for a book that isn’t advertised as a sequel/the author’s body of work not being regarded as a series, the ultimate pay-off probably feels like it comes out of nowhere. Luckily I have read Indian Burial Ground but I’m imagining some people will pick this up without having read that and I just think it’ll be strange. And while that could be put down to the book’s marketing more than the content, it is also quite apparent in the book itself.
I don’t think I’m the target audience for this, it feels very New Adult in its righting style, its horniness and its quite simplistic morality and yeah idk eh, maybe this will do more for others
But beyond that I find the writing overly simplistic, the characters somewhat flat, and the plot a bit of a mess. I think for a book that isn’t advertised as a sequel/the author’s body of work not being regarded as a series, the ultimate pay-off probably feels like it comes out of nowhere. Luckily I have read Indian Burial Ground but I’m imagining some people will pick this up without having read that and I just think it’ll be strange. And while that could be put down to the book’s marketing more than the content, it is also quite apparent in the book itself.
I don’t think I’m the target audience for this, it feels very New Adult in its righting style, its horniness and its quite simplistic morality and yeah idk eh, maybe this will do more for others
September 9, 2025
Henry, the main character, was wheelchair-bound due to a spooky incident he pursued, which set the tone for the entire story. While there were some creepy moments, I felt like the book focused more on Henry's internal struggles rather than a truly scary plot. Medina did an incredible job developing all the characters, and it was easy to believe every decision they made. However, the disconnect for me was with the story's pacing. I found myself a little bored at times because there wasn't a lot of action, just an overwhelming amount of backstory and Henry feeling sorry for himself. The dual timelines also became a distraction at the beginning, but got much better around the halfway mark when I finally got to know the characters.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it didn't wow me like I had hoped. I would also like to clarify that I have NOT read Indian Burial Ground first. Maybe I would have liked this one better if I had read that one first. I would still recommend it to those looking for a new spooky season read.
Thank you, #NetGalley and #Berkley, for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it didn't wow me like I had hoped. I would also like to clarify that I have NOT read Indian Burial Ground first. Maybe I would have liked this one better if I had read that one first. I would still recommend it to those looking for a new spooky season read.
Thank you, #NetGalley and #Berkley, for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2025
I found THE WHISTLER to be more of a coming-of-age drama with a spooky edge than the promised horror novel.
For me, Henry wasn’t a likable MC, and his character arc didn't show any true redemption in the end.
The story has some eerie moments, but overall it’s a lot of Henry having tantrums. Much of the story is steeped in sadness and melancholy. Yet even given Henry’s circumstances, I struggled to empathize.
I learned that this story is tied in with the author’s two previous books, which isn’t made clear in the synopsis. I haven’t read them, so I don’t know whether I would have enjoyed this book more if I’d read the others. But I thought this read fine on its own.
*Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
For me, Henry wasn’t a likable MC, and his character arc didn't show any true redemption in the end.
The story has some eerie moments, but overall it’s a lot of Henry having tantrums. Much of the story is steeped in sadness and melancholy. Yet even given Henry’s circumstances, I struggled to empathize.
I learned that this story is tied in with the author’s two previous books, which isn’t made clear in the synopsis. I haven’t read them, so I don’t know whether I would have enjoyed this book more if I’d read the others. But I thought this read fine on its own.
*Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
September 10, 2025
Thank you so much to @AceBooksPub for the free book 💖✨#BerkleyPartner #Berkley.
The synopsis made me so excited to read The Whistler. It sounded like an episode from the tv series, Supernatural, and I was here for it.
The prologue and the tale of the boy with two faces was the perfect way to kick off this book. It was horror-forward, deeply unsettling and made me excited for what was to come.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story fell flat for me. The horror elements felt few and far between, and I really disliked the MMC, Henry.
I felt terrible that he was left paralyzed from the neck down from a mysterious accident. But the more I learned about him, the less I liked him. He was selfish, beyond inconsiderate and immature.
The synopsis made me so excited to read The Whistler. It sounded like an episode from the tv series, Supernatural, and I was here for it.
The prologue and the tale of the boy with two faces was the perfect way to kick off this book. It was horror-forward, deeply unsettling and made me excited for what was to come.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story fell flat for me. The horror elements felt few and far between, and I really disliked the MMC, Henry.
I felt terrible that he was left paralyzed from the neck down from a mysterious accident. But the more I learned about him, the less I liked him. He was selfish, beyond inconsiderate and immature.
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