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Whisper Creek
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26Allison Brennan delivers a pulse-pounding thriller about one family fighting for their land against both human enemies and Mother Nature.
After the sudden death of her husband, Ellen McKenna is doing everything she can to keep her Texas farm afloat. She and her family hope to expand their operation, but times are tough and making ends meet is more expensive than she imagined, much less trying to grow. Many of their neighbors in Cooke County have thrown in the towel and agreed to sell their farms to a local businessman, but despite similar pressure, Ellen refuses to let her dreams die.
On top of the usual hardships, a series of recent storms has left the region partly flooded, and as the heavy rain begins again one morning, all the members of the McKenna family jump into action to protect their land and animals. Ellen’s oldest son discovers an injured dog—and the dog leads him to a man barely clinging to life, the apparent victim of a brutal home invasion. Then, Ellen’s younger kids go to check on a nearby neighbor and walk into a threat none of them saw coming.
Before anyone can figure out what’s really going on in their idyllic rural valley, the storm picks up again in intensity, and the McKenna kids find themselves in over their heads with no way to call for help. To protect her farm--and her family—Ellen must face down all the forces trying to tear them apart.
Allison Brennan's talent for twisty, tense pacing combines with a deeply drawn family drama and the unforgiving power of nature in this compelling standalone thriller.
After the sudden death of her husband, Ellen McKenna is doing everything she can to keep her Texas farm afloat. She and her family hope to expand their operation, but times are tough and making ends meet is more expensive than she imagined, much less trying to grow. Many of their neighbors in Cooke County have thrown in the towel and agreed to sell their farms to a local businessman, but despite similar pressure, Ellen refuses to let her dreams die.
On top of the usual hardships, a series of recent storms has left the region partly flooded, and as the heavy rain begins again one morning, all the members of the McKenna family jump into action to protect their land and animals. Ellen’s oldest son discovers an injured dog—and the dog leads him to a man barely clinging to life, the apparent victim of a brutal home invasion. Then, Ellen’s younger kids go to check on a nearby neighbor and walk into a threat none of them saw coming.
Before anyone can figure out what’s really going on in their idyllic rural valley, the storm picks up again in intensity, and the McKenna kids find themselves in over their heads with no way to call for help. To protect her farm--and her family—Ellen must face down all the forces trying to tear them apart.
Allison Brennan's talent for twisty, tense pacing combines with a deeply drawn family drama and the unforgiving power of nature in this compelling standalone thriller.
- GenresThrillerMystery Thriller
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 23, 2026
192 people want to read
About the author
Allison Brennan
110 books5,279 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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December 26, 2025This would be a first from this author for me - but it sounds so good!!
November 26, 2025
“...[She] had started thinking about life differently. She couldn’t explain it, and didn’t try to understand it. All she knew was that she wanted to live fully...She wanted to give one hundred percent of herself to everything she loved."
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this eARC!
Whisper Creek is set in a rural Texas community bracing for a massive storm. As the McKenna family rushes to secure their property against flooding and violent weather, chaos unfolds over the next 24 hours. Family members are separated, danger lurks around every corner, and a string of burglaries has already been terrorizing the community. Meanwhile, Ellen, a recently widowed mother refuses to let anything—or anyone—threaten her family or her town. Are these events merely coincidence, or is something bigger at play?
My heart was pounding the entire time as I waited to see what would happen next, but what surprised me most was how quickly I bonded with the McKennas. From Jake, the oldest sibling trying to step into his father’s shoes, to Grandma Penny, who greets readers with a shotgun in hand, to sweet ten-year-old Benny, who’s more worried about finding a missing barn cat named Cleo than the approaching storm, I loved every single one of them. The McKenna family, both by blood and by the community they’ve built, ended up being my favorite part of the book.
Most thrillers I read tend to focus more on plot than character, but Allison Brennan creates a community you instantly care about. She sets such a strong, atmospheric tone—one that honestly rivals a lot of the literary fiction I’ve read. I’m not afraid to say this has been my favorite thriller of the year, and I’m so glad I picked it up when I did.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this eARC!
Whisper Creek is set in a rural Texas community bracing for a massive storm. As the McKenna family rushes to secure their property against flooding and violent weather, chaos unfolds over the next 24 hours. Family members are separated, danger lurks around every corner, and a string of burglaries has already been terrorizing the community. Meanwhile, Ellen, a recently widowed mother refuses to let anything—or anyone—threaten her family or her town. Are these events merely coincidence, or is something bigger at play?
My heart was pounding the entire time as I waited to see what would happen next, but what surprised me most was how quickly I bonded with the McKennas. From Jake, the oldest sibling trying to step into his father’s shoes, to Grandma Penny, who greets readers with a shotgun in hand, to sweet ten-year-old Benny, who’s more worried about finding a missing barn cat named Cleo than the approaching storm, I loved every single one of them. The McKenna family, both by blood and by the community they’ve built, ended up being my favorite part of the book.
Most thrillers I read tend to focus more on plot than character, but Allison Brennan creates a community you instantly care about. She sets such a strong, atmospheric tone—one that honestly rivals a lot of the literary fiction I’ve read. I’m not afraid to say this has been my favorite thriller of the year, and I’m so glad I picked it up when I did.
December 19, 2025
Tremors Meets Open Range. I truly think the best way to describe this book for an at least somewhat general audience - you still need to be familiar with these movies - really is the combination of the movies I use in the title of the review here.
In Tremors, you get an excellent use of a closed environment (in the case of the movie, a desert valley where the only road in or out has been blocked) to create a fun, intense survival type thriller where the good guys can only guess at what is going on. Brennan absolutely *nailed* that element here, using catastrophic flooding to great effect.
In Open Range, there are other issues going on between neighbors, with some neighbors being less than neighborly to their neighbors. Some might even say they were dirty, underhanded, cowardly snakes who were only looking out for themselves. Again, Brennan absolutely *nails* this element as well... while actually expanding on it in some rather interesting ways.
Ultimately, our central family truly is the heart of this tale, even as the events of the book keep them separated for so much of it. Brennan uses both environment and human quite well, and truly manages to give very nearly every character some level of weight to them such that you really want to see how this plays out for everyone... even the snakes. But especially the family cat who has run off in the storm...
Solid book that could get perhaps a touch too real for some when it is scheduled for release in the middle of the summer of 2026, this is absolutely a book fans of both family drama and survival tales are going to want to read, and it appears to be truly standalone to boot.
Very much recommended.
In Tremors, you get an excellent use of a closed environment (in the case of the movie, a desert valley where the only road in or out has been blocked) to create a fun, intense survival type thriller where the good guys can only guess at what is going on. Brennan absolutely *nailed* that element here, using catastrophic flooding to great effect.
In Open Range, there are other issues going on between neighbors, with some neighbors being less than neighborly to their neighbors. Some might even say they were dirty, underhanded, cowardly snakes who were only looking out for themselves. Again, Brennan absolutely *nails* this element as well... while actually expanding on it in some rather interesting ways.
Ultimately, our central family truly is the heart of this tale, even as the events of the book keep them separated for so much of it. Brennan uses both environment and human quite well, and truly manages to give very nearly every character some level of weight to them such that you really want to see how this plays out for everyone... even the snakes. But especially the family cat who has run off in the storm...
Solid book that could get perhaps a touch too real for some when it is scheduled for release in the middle of the summer of 2026, this is absolutely a book fans of both family drama and survival tales are going to want to read, and it appears to be truly standalone to boot.
Very much recommended.
November 24, 2025
Thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for this eARC.
Allison Brennan’s Whisper Creek is a taut, atmospheric thriller that blends psychological tension with procedural grit. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic small town, the novel quickly reveals that beneath the quiet surface lies a web of secrets, betrayals, and long-buried crimes.
- Compelling protagonist: Brennan crafts a lead character who is resilient and haunted, navigating personal scars while pursuing justice. The balance between vulnerability and determination makes her deeply relatable.
The pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to build through subtle clues and shifting perspectives. Each chapter pushes the reader closer to the truth while raising new questions.
Whisper Creek itself feels like a character—its isolation, whispers of history, and eerie calm amplify the unease. Brennan uses setting to heighten suspense in a way that feels organic rather than forced.
This novel explores how trauma shapes identity and how trust can be both weapon and salvation.
Consideration
- The darkness of the subject matter—particularly its exploration of violence and hidden crimes—demands emotional resilience from the reader.
Whisper Creek is a story about confronting the shadows of the past and the resilience required to face them. Brennan’s skill lies in weaving suspense with emotional authenticity, making this book a rewarding read for those who appreciate thrillers that linger long after the final page.
Allison Brennan’s Whisper Creek is a taut, atmospheric thriller that blends psychological tension with procedural grit. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic small town, the novel quickly reveals that beneath the quiet surface lies a web of secrets, betrayals, and long-buried crimes.
- Compelling protagonist: Brennan crafts a lead character who is resilient and haunted, navigating personal scars while pursuing justice. The balance between vulnerability and determination makes her deeply relatable.
The pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to build through subtle clues and shifting perspectives. Each chapter pushes the reader closer to the truth while raising new questions.
Whisper Creek itself feels like a character—its isolation, whispers of history, and eerie calm amplify the unease. Brennan uses setting to heighten suspense in a way that feels organic rather than forced.
This novel explores how trauma shapes identity and how trust can be both weapon and salvation.
Consideration
- The darkness of the subject matter—particularly its exploration of violence and hidden crimes—demands emotional resilience from the reader.
Whisper Creek is a story about confronting the shadows of the past and the resilience required to face them. Brennan’s skill lies in weaving suspense with emotional authenticity, making this book a rewarding read for those who appreciate thrillers that linger long after the final page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am familiar with Allison Brennan’s Reagan Merritt series and her Quinn and Costa series but have never read any of her standalone novels. “Whisper Creek” is completely different in writing style, but is still a home run.
“Whisper Creek” follows a family that has been devastated by the loss of a father and husband and the wife that is determined to keep the family farming business running. The novel is one of high stakes, corporate shenanigans, and of family survival.
The pacing is fast and furious as the family battles the elements and criminals that are willing to kill for what they want. Each member of the family has moments in the spotlight. Don’t think this is just a feel-good story. There is a lot going on and very real danger. All of which is handled in a clever way by the author. I anticipate this being a must read, not only for the summer, but for years to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
“Whisper Creek” follows a family that has been devastated by the loss of a father and husband and the wife that is determined to keep the family farming business running. The novel is one of high stakes, corporate shenanigans, and of family survival.
The pacing is fast and furious as the family battles the elements and criminals that are willing to kill for what they want. Each member of the family has moments in the spotlight. Don’t think this is just a feel-good story. There is a lot going on and very real danger. All of which is handled in a clever way by the author. I anticipate this being a must read, not only for the summer, but for years to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
November 30, 2025
Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan is a suspenseful, gripping, fast paced and heartfelt family drama. The rains, flooding and violent weather are as much of a character as the McKenna family. Unputdownable, very good read.
Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press /Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press /Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
November 25, 2025
This rural thriller collides a desperate criminal crew with a widowed mother fighting to save her family farm. Tense, fast-moving, and surprisingly heartfelt, it explores survival, corporate greed, and the unbreakable instinct to protect what’s yours.
December 5, 2025
What a high octane read! This book is packed with intrigue, suspense and lots action. This book takes you on a high speed roller coaster ride. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This has such incredible writing. I’d give this book 10 stars if I could.
December 17, 2025
This book was everything. The pacing was perfect. The characters were so well-developed and well-written. Honestly, even the unlikeable characters were exceptional. I was hooked from the first page and read all of this in one sitting. The plot was gripping and so suspenseful. Not to me the atmospheric setting, I’ll never see storms the same way again.
Absolutely 5 stars and I highly recommend picking this one up when it’s released on June 23rd!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Absolutely 5 stars and I highly recommend picking this one up when it’s released on June 23rd!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews