The Whistler

Detective Lew Kirby #3

by S.W. Kane

One is chasing justice. One is chasing the past. Both are being followed.

Deep beneath London, urban explorer Connie Darke stumbles across a mutilated body in the city’s decaying sewer system. Moments later, a strange whistling sound follows her through the tunnels—low, eerie, impossible to trace.

DI Lew Kirby is assigned the case. The victim is a wealthy financier with no clear reason to be underground—and no shortage of enemies above it. As Kirby investigates, Connie uncovers chilling new clues about the unexplained death of her sister. Both are drawn deeper into a world of hidden networks, buried secrets, and obsession.

And someone out there is watching them both, following them both…

As the city’s hidden layers begin to crack open, Kirby and Connie must confront the terrifying possibility that whoever, or whatever, is stalking them has been waiting a long time to emerge.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2025

About the author

S W Kane has a degree in History of Design and worked at the Royal Institute of British Architects before taking on a series of totally unrelated jobs in radio and the music industry. She has an MA in Creative (Crime) Writing from City University. She began reading crime fiction at an early age and developed an obsession with crime set in cold places. A chance encounter with a derelict fort in rural Pembrokeshire led to a fascination with urban exploration, which in turn became the inspiration for her crime novels. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Bre Clem · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up! Crime thrillers and gore aren’t my thing however- the descriptions and plot twists were well-planned and executed and on a 1-10 scale, the disturbing parts weren’t what I anticipated them to be after reading the synopsis. I may read the first two books that came before this one now, because I need to know the full story! Also- I liked the characters and their banter was not excessive and the book didn’t drag at all.!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

📝 Short Summary

The Whistler follows a chilling, twist heavy investigation through London’s forgotten underground decaying estates, derelict tunnels, and the dark corners of the city that hide decades old secrets. When a body is discovered in the sewer system, DI Lew Kirby and urban explorer Connie Darke find their lives colliding as they hunt an antagonist who’s been watching, stalking, and planning far longer than anyone realizes. As personal obsessions, buried history, and dangerous connections surface, the case becomes more tangled and far more personal than either of them expected.

Review

This book grabbed my attention from the start. The atmosphere alone made it impossible to look away. S.W. Kane writes London’s abandoned underbelly with such sharpness and mood that you feel like you’re there with the characters, breathing in the damp tunnels and feeling the shadows move behind you. The writing is honestly amazing: tight, haunting, and cinematic, especially in the urban-exploration scenes. The plot itself unfolds with strong pacing and a good amount of tension, weaving between Connie’s personal obsession and Lew Kirby’s procedural investigation in a way that keeps the stakes escalating.

One of my favorite aspects is how everyone’s stories connect, side characters, timelines, old secrets, buried tragedies, they all eventually meet in the middle and reveal the bigger picture. It feels deliberate and layered. That said, there were moments where I was confused about who was who, especially when the story threaded in multiple perspectives and decades of hidden history. But even when I got turned around, the atmosphere and tension pulled me straight back in.

As a whole, The Whistler is dark, unsettling, and full of twists that feel earned rather than thrown in for shock value. And now that I’ve read this one, I genuinely want to pick up the rest of the Lew Kirby books. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that blend police procedural precision with urban-gothic creepiness and deep emotional trauma, this one delivers exactly that with a sharp edge.

⚠️ Triggers / Content Warnings

This is a very dark thriller containing extreme and sensitive themes.
Includes:

Non-consent, dubious consent, sexual assault

Graphic violence, murder, torture

Child abuse (physical & sexual)

Kidnapping

Forced drug use

Emotional manipulation, coercion, stalking

Police violence

Eating disorders, body dysmorphia

References to suicide

Severe mental and emotional trauma

📚 Genres & Tropes
Genres

Psychological Thriller

Thriller

Mystery / Detective

Police Procedural

Dark Fiction

Tropes

Urban Exploration / Abandoned Places

Amateur Sleuth + Professional Detective Duo

Personal Obsession Driving the Plot

Buried Secrets & Long-Hidden History

Stalking / Watching Presence

Conviction by Contradiction cluework

Multiple Twists & Turns

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚The Whistler
✍🏻S W Kane
Blurb:
One is chasing justice. One is chasing the past. Both are being followed.

Deep beneath London, urban explorer Connie Darke stumbles across a mutilated body in the city’s decaying sewer system. Moments later, a strange whistling sound follows her through the tunnels—low, eerie, impossible to trace.

DI Lew Kirby is assigned the case. The victim is a wealthy financier with no clear reason to be underground—and no shortage of enemies above it. As Kirby investigates, Connie uncovers chilling new clues about the unexplained death of her sister. Both are drawn deeper into a world of hidden networks, buried secrets, and obsession.

And someone out there is watching them both, following them both…

As the city’s hidden layers begin to crack open, Kirby and Connie must confront the terrifying possibility that whoever, or whatever, is stalking them has been waiting a long time to emerge.
My Thoughts:
The Whistler is the third book in the brilliant DI Lew Kirby series. .Connie tries to overcome her sudden fear of small spaces and asks a fellow urban explorer, Mole, to give her a guided tour of the London sewer system (well, a small part of it. Whilst navigating the tunnels, and avoiding numerous unmentionable hazards, they stumble upon a dead body. The shocking discovery is made all the more sinister by the sound of someone whistling nearby..Connie tries to overcome her sudden fear of small spaces and asks a fellow urban explorer, Mole convinces Connie to not tell a soul about the discovery. Not even landlord/friend Detective Inspector Lew Kirby. And she doesn’t, immediately. But it’s hard to keep a secret like that when you’re hanging out with a bastion of the law. DI Kirby is asked to investigate the strange death. But it seems the urbex community is determined to keep the truth hidden. And they’re not the only ones…is a cracking addition to what is becoming a brilliant series. I love Lew Kirby. He’s such a great character. In this book Lew’s girlfriend, Isabel, is pregnant, and the imminent arrival of his first child is raising all sorts of questions for Lew. Not only is parenthood looming, but homelessness is too (well, sort of). His beloved barge is about to be sold from underneath him. Just what he needs with a tricky investigation hanging over his head and a new stage of his life about to start. I really enjoyed this book. It’s fast-paced, creepy, and full of tension.
Thanks NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Author S W Kane for the advanced copy of "The Whistler" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation
#TheWhistleer
#Thomas&Mercer
#SWKane
#NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings Child death

[Lo-La Soda-Pereira]

The Whistler by S.W. Kane. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley.

Deep beneath London, Urban explorer Connie, who is trying to overcome her claustrophobia goes down into the City's sewer system with her friend and fellow Explorer, Mole. She stumbled across a mutilated body in one of the chambers and moments later they hear a strong whistling sound through the tunnels.

The case is being investigated by DI Lee Kirby, Connie's friend and Landlord. They are drawn into buried secrets and new clues about the unexplained death of Connie's sister.

This book took me way down the rabbit hole of urban exploration — people sneaking into tunnels, sewers, and abandoned spaces for thrills. I don’t get it 😩 but it definitely added that creepy, claustrophobic vibe that kept me reading.

It is book 3 in the Detective Lew Kirby series, my first time reading a book in the series and it can be read as a stand-alone. It was a bit predictable (the culprit was obvious), not mind blowing but it held my attention till the end. I liked the tension and the dynamic between Kirby and Connie. Something tells me that friendship might just evolve 👀

My Verdict ? 6.5/10. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers, all opinions expressed are entirely mine.

I will leave you with this quote from the book:

" ... Maybe she should join a book club, thought Connie. The idea of having somewhere to go to talk to like minded people seemed appealing"

You are a book lover and love to talk about books? Then you should join a community of readers. Trust me, it elevates the reading experience 😉

[Dez Nemec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connie is an urban explorer. One night down in the sewer, she finds a mutilated body. Completely freaked out, she calls her landlord, Detective Inspector Lew Kirby the next day. Due to the horrible storms that hit after the body's discovery, the body is no longer where Connie saw it so Lew can only wait until it hopefully shows up in the Thames. The body eventually does reappear, but the identity of the dead man only makes the case more complicated. What would a rich man who worked with respectable, wealthy people be doing dead in a sewer? Lew is hoping to find out sooner, especially since Connie appears to be in the killer's crosshairs.

This is my first of the series, but I have been reading through mysteries like crazy this year so I am always on the lookout for new ones. Surprisingly (at least to me), I appear to like the series with more procedure and less relying on randos in the detective's life to help solve the case. Don't get me wrong - this was enjoyable and I will absolutely grab another from the series if I see one about. It's just not my favorite formula, that's all. Still a good mystery though!

[Payal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of the audiobook courtesy of of NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing. All opinions shared in this review are my own and not impacted.

The Whistler by SW Kane is book 3 of the Detective Lew Kirby series. I have not read the first two books but felt like while it may have been helpful for some of the backstory it was not necessary. For those familiar, think the Harry Bosch series.

The audio is fantastic. Matthew Lloyd Davies does a great job capturing the the dark underbelly of tunnel diving and the emotions of each of the characters. I found myself captivated!

Now to the story- the writing is pretty good. My biggest struggles (and the reason for 4 stars as opposed to 5)— it was hard to follow the characters. It took me about half the book before I finally understood who was who and their relationships to each other. I wondered if reading book 1 and 2 might have helped but the reality is, I don’t think it would have. Once I got the hang of the characters, the story was pretty good. Entertaining and fast paced!

[Pournami Rathnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read with a solid premise, but one that didn’t fully click for me.

This book had an intriguing premise, and the storyline kept a steady pace that made it easy to move through. The darker, atmospheric elements were definitely its strongest point and the eerie tone was consistent and enjoyable.

However, I struggled to form any real connection with the characters, which made it hard to feel fully immersed in what was happening. I kept waiting for a moment that would pull me in emotionally, but it never quite arrived.

Some sections also felt a bit scattered in their structure, giving the narrative a slightly disorganized feel at times. Because of that, I found myself drifting in and out of the story instead of being completely hooked.

Overall, it’s not a bad read — the concept is engaging, and there’s potential here — but I finished it feeling like something was missing and wishing for a bit more depth and cohesion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Marylovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review of *The Whistler* by S. W. Kane**
**Narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies**

Matthew Lloyd Davies does a fantastic job bringing this dark, suspenseful story to life.

Urban explorer Connie Darke discovers a mutilated body in the city’s sewers—and soon hears a strange, eerie whistling that seems to follow her. When members of her exploring group start turning up dead, DI Lew Kirby is assigned to the case. As Kirby investigates, Connie continues to search for answers about her sister’s past, unaware that both threads will draw her closer to danger.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s fast-paced, creepy, and full of tension. The antagonist is genuinely unsettling, and the developing connection between Connie and DI Kirby adds depth. Even though I haven’t read the first two books, I had no problem following along and now want to read the rest of the series.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advance copy.**

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Deep beneath London, urban explorer Connie Darke stumbles across a mutilated body in the city’s decaying sewer system. Moments later, a strange whistling sound follows her through the tunnels—low, eerie, impossible to trace."

So this was an interesting read. I haven't read any of Kane's other books, but it's easy enough to figure out the dynamics between Connie and Kirby. Atmospheric, creepy, and complex, this novel keeps the reader engaged in the plot without really stretching plausibility. I know there are quite a few urban explorers and YouTube accounts that show how far they'll go to get into places most people don't know even exist.

My only question is: how many detectives live on houseboats on the Thames? This is probably the second novel I've read this year where the detective lives on a houseboat. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Mim_Who _Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Whistler by S.W. Kane is an atmospheric and unsettling read that leans heavily on mood and tension. The writing does well in capturing a kind of grim underbelly of London. The author balances grit with just enough humanity through the MCs, making you care about them even when the story gets bleak. I think this one is the kind of narrative that keeps you looking over your shoulder, half-expecting to hear that eerie whistle yourself.

The mystery unfolds in a believable way, and even when you think you know what’s going on, there’s still an uneasiness that lingers. The character work stands out most to me. Connie’s mix of fear and determination makes her easy to root for, while Kirby’s quiet persistence feels authentic.
I had an ALC thanks to NetGalley and the narrator did a solid job at bringing the characters and story to life

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Whistler by S.W. Kane is an eerie, atmospheric thriller that takes readers deep beneath the streets of London into its dark and twisting sewer tunnels. Add in a chilling dose of stalking, and you’ve got the perfect fall read for those longer, darker nights.

This is book three in the Detective Lew Kirby series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone.

Matthew Lloyd Davies delivers an excellent narration that truly brings the story to life—an outstanding production all around.

Thank you to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for letting me read this ARC.

[Liz Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the premise for his novel interesting; a body is discovered in the old London sewer tunnels and a storm washes it into the Thames. It was definitely an atmospheric read.

However, I did had a hard time fully engaging with the characters or the story. I feel like the character development wasn't great, but then again being that I was unaware that this is a part of a series, maybe we're already supposed to be familiar and connected to these people.

Overall, it was difficult for me to stay connected.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A body is found in a sewer, goes unreported and is investigated by a local detective. Lots of secrets uncovered as a friend group is seemingly being taken out one by one.

this was an interesting premise and the plot was suspenseful enough for me to keep listening, but I didn’t feel very connected to the characters. I feel like if there was a bit more character backstory/development I would’ve enjoyed it more!

3/5 stars

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was big step up from the other two books in the series. More drama and tension for Kirby and Connie.

I liked that this mystery brings back some of the characters and urban explorer plots from book one.

These books are super easy to read, mystery focused, not super crazy, but not too easy to figure out either. The narrator does a nice job with the different regional British accents (to my American ears).

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm partial to these kinds of creepy stories where terrible things are happening underground and the rest of us don't know about it. This is a mystery but it's also dark and intriguing. The mystery wasn't completely unexpected but there was a lot of suspense and I enjoyed the narration on the audiobook, which helped raise the tension.

[Kelsey Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled to follow along. It could be that this style of writing isn’t for me but I just couldn’t keep track of everything.

I liked the premise but even after finishing, I’m not sure what all happened. Again, not bad- just maybe not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

[Ashley Tovar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a very middle of the road book for me. I liked the concept & the plot moved at a good pace but I felt no connection to the characters. I was definitely left wanting more. There were also parts that were a bit chaotically organized which hindered my ability to get fully invested.

Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the body of a wealthy financier is found, and then disappears, the mystery deepens quickly. It is going to take everything Detective Lew has to solve this case.

This was a decent read. The book contains several twists that I did not see coming, so a pleasant surprise. A slow start, but definitely gets better as the book continues.

The narrator was great!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant series of books.

When reading I always follow completed books with something completely different. I change genres and never follow on with the next book in a series by one author. This was different. I read all three books in the series without a break and am very sad there isn't a fourth in the series. Loved them. Gobbled them up. More please!

[Yasaman Sabersheikh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was good, very literary and descriptive. However, I didn’t enjoy the story, and none of the characters really resonated with me. A bit more character development would have made a big difference.