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The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts: A gripping psychological thriller
At 30 years old, Elizabeth Betts decides that she needs a friend – a loyal one this time.
When she meets Eve at an evening class, she believes she has found one.
But can Eve help her to cast out the lingering shadows of the past? More importantly, will the dark whispers that control Elizabeth allow her to hold on to her friend this time?
Take a time-hopping journey in The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts, a story of disturbing events and twisting secrets, which gradually unfold to reveal the shocking truth about Elizabeth’s life.
When she meets Eve at an evening class, she believes she has found one.
But can Eve help her to cast out the lingering shadows of the past? More importantly, will the dark whispers that control Elizabeth allow her to hold on to her friend this time?
Take a time-hopping journey in The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts, a story of disturbing events and twisting secrets, which gradually unfold to reveal the shocking truth about Elizabeth’s life.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2025
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 17, 2025
Trigger warnings: Mental health issues, SA and forced pregnancy, generational trauma
LOVED IT! Totally recommend it to all thriller, horror fans.
‘The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts’ is a sad story with plenty of twisted secrets that made me stick around till the end without getting out of my chair.
The story follows Lizzie, who decides at thirty that it’s finally time to try and make a real connection, something she’s struggled with since childhood. Her mother is totally unsupportive, almost embarrassing her about the idea of taking up tap dancing, but Lizzie goes anyway. That’s where she meets Eve.
But Lizzie isn’t exactly alone. She lives with a "whisperer" in her head, a voice that’s been her only consistent friend, feeding her thoughts that range from good to really dark. When Eve comes into the picture, the voice gets jealous and warns Lizzie to be careful. In hindsight, the whisperer was actually right about Eve’s true identity, but you don’t see that coming at first. It’s disturbing to watch Lizzie respond out loud to this voice, making you constantly question what exactly she is suffering from.
The friendship between Lizzie and Eve feels natural but has this weird, intense third wheel: the jealous voice in Lizzie’s head. Meanwhile, there’s Mark, a work colleague who genuinely loves Lizzie and tries to get her to notice him. But for the longest time, she only has eyes for Eve, leading to some truly lamentable and disturbing attempts at a relationship that Eve just doesn’t reciprocate (and for good reason).
The book juggles between the past and the future, dropping puzzle pieces that don’t fully form a picture until the very end. It’s absolutely delicious how much the story makes you doubt everything and second-guess every character. Around the halfway mark, when Lizzie finally steps away from Eve and gives Mark a chance, the fog starts to clear, and boy, what a disturbing emotional rollercoaster that is.
Lizzie’s past is shrouded in pain and misery, but even more so when we delve into her family roots. The writing is gripping and easy to fly through, weaving a plot that comes full circle perfectly.
This story makes you suspect someone, but it keeps you so much in doubt and second-guessing that it is almost sinfully delicious. I was utterly enraptured and by the time I found out the truth I was stunned by the intricate past.
And OMG that ending, no f’ing way Lesley Hill ended the story like that. Absolute genius. I will get it in hard copy too.
Many, many thanks to Lesley Hill, Troubador Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
LOVED IT! Totally recommend it to all thriller, horror fans.
‘The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts’ is a sad story with plenty of twisted secrets that made me stick around till the end without getting out of my chair.
The story follows Lizzie, who decides at thirty that it’s finally time to try and make a real connection, something she’s struggled with since childhood. Her mother is totally unsupportive, almost embarrassing her about the idea of taking up tap dancing, but Lizzie goes anyway. That’s where she meets Eve.
But Lizzie isn’t exactly alone. She lives with a "whisperer" in her head, a voice that’s been her only consistent friend, feeding her thoughts that range from good to really dark. When Eve comes into the picture, the voice gets jealous and warns Lizzie to be careful. In hindsight, the whisperer was actually right about Eve’s true identity, but you don’t see that coming at first. It’s disturbing to watch Lizzie respond out loud to this voice, making you constantly question what exactly she is suffering from.
The friendship between Lizzie and Eve feels natural but has this weird, intense third wheel: the jealous voice in Lizzie’s head. Meanwhile, there’s Mark, a work colleague who genuinely loves Lizzie and tries to get her to notice him. But for the longest time, she only has eyes for Eve, leading to some truly lamentable and disturbing attempts at a relationship that Eve just doesn’t reciprocate (and for good reason).
The book juggles between the past and the future, dropping puzzle pieces that don’t fully form a picture until the very end. It’s absolutely delicious how much the story makes you doubt everything and second-guess every character. Around the halfway mark, when Lizzie finally steps away from Eve and gives Mark a chance, the fog starts to clear, and boy, what a disturbing emotional rollercoaster that is.
Lizzie’s past is shrouded in pain and misery, but even more so when we delve into her family roots. The writing is gripping and easy to fly through, weaving a plot that comes full circle perfectly.
This story makes you suspect someone, but it keeps you so much in doubt and second-guessing that it is almost sinfully delicious. I was utterly enraptured and by the time I found out the truth I was stunned by the intricate past.
And OMG that ending, no f’ing way Lesley Hill ended the story like that. Absolute genius. I will get it in hard copy too.
Many, many thanks to Lesley Hill, Troubador Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
February 14, 2026
What a real twisted psychological suspenseful thriller, that is heavily mental health oriented.
The story of Lizzie Betts (or is it Elizabeth?! Youl understand when you read the book!) is told in third party narrative which really worked for this book, I can sometimes struggle with this but didn’t at all in this book.
A time hopping journey between the past and the present Lizzie and her Whisperings really set the tone and scene for the story and you do feel instantly drawn and intrigued by Lizzie. As the story unfolds the twists and disturbing secrets keep on coming. As Lizzies life unravels and the need to hold onto a friend takes a dramatic turn and a twist many won’t see coming.
I won’t go too into detail on the plot as I think going in blind other than the blurb really helps to build the tension and story, it’s so cleverly done. Lizzie is such a complex character you can’t help be drawn to her and her ways, so many layers with her and this story. It’s stuck with me since reading.
I found this book to be such a clever read, well paced and easy to read and keep up with. It did feel a little rushed at the end and I’d maybe have liked a little more from it, however the ending was brilliant and well played.
I would definitely recommend this book to fellow thriller and psychological mystery thriller readers and would most certainly read more from this author.
The story of Lizzie Betts (or is it Elizabeth?! Youl understand when you read the book!) is told in third party narrative which really worked for this book, I can sometimes struggle with this but didn’t at all in this book.
A time hopping journey between the past and the present Lizzie and her Whisperings really set the tone and scene for the story and you do feel instantly drawn and intrigued by Lizzie. As the story unfolds the twists and disturbing secrets keep on coming. As Lizzies life unravels and the need to hold onto a friend takes a dramatic turn and a twist many won’t see coming.
I won’t go too into detail on the plot as I think going in blind other than the blurb really helps to build the tension and story, it’s so cleverly done. Lizzie is such a complex character you can’t help be drawn to her and her ways, so many layers with her and this story. It’s stuck with me since reading.
I found this book to be such a clever read, well paced and easy to read and keep up with. It did feel a little rushed at the end and I’d maybe have liked a little more from it, however the ending was brilliant and well played.
I would definitely recommend this book to fellow thriller and psychological mystery thriller readers and would most certainly read more from this author.
February 23, 2026
The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts follows Elizabeth, who at 30 years old, decides that she needs a friend – a loyal one this time. When she meets Eve at an evening class, she believes she has found one. But can Eve help her to cast out the lingering shadows of the past? More importantly, will the dark whispers that control Elizabeth allow her to hold on to her friend this time?
The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts is a dark, gripping, impressive debut that completely captivated me from the very first page. This is a book that doesn’t need a blurb, you’re best off going in blind and letting it have its full impact.
Elizabeth is such a complex character, and the way she’s written is both compelling and enrapturing. The distinctive writing style and fractured narrative worked perfectly together and made me feel like I was living inside Elizabeth’s mind. It was immersive, intimate, unsettling, and personal, and it genuinely made me feel like I was experiencing Elizabeth’s life alongside her.
The story gradually unfolds through glimpses of disturbing past events, carefully revealed secrets, and twists. The short, fast-paced chapters made it impossible to put down, and the unreliable thread running throughout keeps you constantly questioning who, and what, to trust. Then as each chapter adds another piece to the puzzle, the devastating truth about Elizabeth’s life slowly comes into focus.
The whole book is unique and suspenseful. It explores themes of friendship, family, trauma, and self-preservation, and the ending was beautifully written in the way it came full circle. I loved the final little surprise, and I can’t wait to see what Lesley Hill writes next.
Thank you so much to Lesley Hill for sending me this copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts is a dark, gripping, impressive debut that completely captivated me from the very first page. This is a book that doesn’t need a blurb, you’re best off going in blind and letting it have its full impact.
Elizabeth is such a complex character, and the way she’s written is both compelling and enrapturing. The distinctive writing style and fractured narrative worked perfectly together and made me feel like I was living inside Elizabeth’s mind. It was immersive, intimate, unsettling, and personal, and it genuinely made me feel like I was experiencing Elizabeth’s life alongside her.
The story gradually unfolds through glimpses of disturbing past events, carefully revealed secrets, and twists. The short, fast-paced chapters made it impossible to put down, and the unreliable thread running throughout keeps you constantly questioning who, and what, to trust. Then as each chapter adds another piece to the puzzle, the devastating truth about Elizabeth’s life slowly comes into focus.
The whole book is unique and suspenseful. It explores themes of friendship, family, trauma, and self-preservation, and the ending was beautifully written in the way it came full circle. I loved the final little surprise, and I can’t wait to see what Lesley Hill writes next.
Thank you so much to Lesley Hill for sending me this copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
September 23, 2025
The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts is a haunting debut that lingers like a half-remembered dream—quietly unsettling, tenderly wrought, and steeped in the ache of memory. Lesley Hill crafts a time-hopping narrative that slips between past and present, revealing the fragile architecture of friendship, trauma, and self-preservation.
Elizabeth Betts, at thirty, is searching not just for companionship but for absolution. When she meets Eve at an evening class, hope flickers—but so do the shadows. The novel’s strength lies in its slow reveal: disturbing events and twisting secrets unfold with a delicate hand, each whisper drawing us closer to the truth Elizabeth has buried deep.
Hill’s prose is understated yet evocative, capturing the emotional dissonance of a woman caught between longing and fear. The psychological tension is palpable, but never overwrought—this is a story that trusts its readers to listen closely, to feel the tremors beneath the surface.
As a debut, it’s remarkably assured. As a story, it’s quietly devastating. The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts doesn’t shout—it murmurs, and its echoes stay with you long after the final page.
Thank you to Lesley Hill, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Elizabeth Betts, at thirty, is searching not just for companionship but for absolution. When she meets Eve at an evening class, hope flickers—but so do the shadows. The novel’s strength lies in its slow reveal: disturbing events and twisting secrets unfold with a delicate hand, each whisper drawing us closer to the truth Elizabeth has buried deep.
Hill’s prose is understated yet evocative, capturing the emotional dissonance of a woman caught between longing and fear. The psychological tension is palpable, but never overwrought—this is a story that trusts its readers to listen closely, to feel the tremors beneath the surface.
As a debut, it’s remarkably assured. As a story, it’s quietly devastating. The Whisperings of Lizzie Betts doesn’t shout—it murmurs, and its echoes stay with you long after the final page.
Thank you to Lesley Hill, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 22, 2025
This is an absolutely incredible debut novel by Lesley and I really enjoyed it.
The Blurb...
"At 30 years old, Elizabeth Betts decides that she needs a friend – a loyal one this time. When she meets Eve at an evening class, she believes she has found one.
But can Eve help her to cast out the lingering shadows of the past? More importantly, will the dark whispers that control Elizabeth allow her to hold on to her friend this time?
Take a time-hopping journey in a story of disturbing events and twisting secrets, which gradually unfold to reveal the shocking truth about Elizabeth’s life."
This story flips between different time lines and multiple characters POV.
It's fast paced with short chapters and I read it in one go. This kept me guessing right until the end and even now am doubting myself 🤣
This plot was unique to me and I loved how the suspense built throughout. This is deffo a book to go in blind, I won't say anymore, just go check it out.
The Blurb...
"At 30 years old, Elizabeth Betts decides that she needs a friend – a loyal one this time. When she meets Eve at an evening class, she believes she has found one.
But can Eve help her to cast out the lingering shadows of the past? More importantly, will the dark whispers that control Elizabeth allow her to hold on to her friend this time?
Take a time-hopping journey in a story of disturbing events and twisting secrets, which gradually unfold to reveal the shocking truth about Elizabeth’s life."
This story flips between different time lines and multiple characters POV.
It's fast paced with short chapters and I read it in one go. This kept me guessing right until the end and even now am doubting myself 🤣
This plot was unique to me and I loved how the suspense built throughout. This is deffo a book to go in blind, I won't say anymore, just go check it out.
March 1, 2026
A character driven novel that draws you into the life of Lizzie Betts, this is a book I found hard to put down.
Lizzie is one of those characters that you can't help but feel for, the voice she's heard since a little girl, impacting on her life, friendships and relationships follows her into her adult life and the writing cleverly has you guessing at the lengths it drives her to.
The writing cleverly includes a seemingly side story, with chapters from Amanda slotted in, which leave you questioning how they will interlink and come together.
Covering some darker topics and a heavy link to mental health, it's a deeper read but one that seemed to captivate me.
The twists? Whilst I did suspect one element of it, I didn't fully forsee the whole plot twist, and it cleverly came together at the end, even offering one last clever drop in the closing pages.
Lizzie is one of those characters that you can't help but feel for, the voice she's heard since a little girl, impacting on her life, friendships and relationships follows her into her adult life and the writing cleverly has you guessing at the lengths it drives her to.
The writing cleverly includes a seemingly side story, with chapters from Amanda slotted in, which leave you questioning how they will interlink and come together.
Covering some darker topics and a heavy link to mental health, it's a deeper read but one that seemed to captivate me.
The twists? Whilst I did suspect one element of it, I didn't fully forsee the whole plot twist, and it cleverly came together at the end, even offering one last clever drop in the closing pages.
November 24, 2025
WOW! What a book, I couldn’t put it down and read it in a single day!
A gripping story that shifts between past and present, it explores friendship, family trauma, and self-preservation, revealing a dark past filled with pain, misery, and secrets.
With a slow reveal yet fast pace, it kept me guessing until the very end, and that twist? I never saw it coming!
If you love suspenseful, unpredictable reads, this one’s for you. Expect chilling twists and turns!
A huge thanks to Lesley Hill for sending me a copy of this debut; it’s earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf.
A gripping story that shifts between past and present, it explores friendship, family trauma, and self-preservation, revealing a dark past filled with pain, misery, and secrets.
With a slow reveal yet fast pace, it kept me guessing until the very end, and that twist? I never saw it coming!
If you love suspenseful, unpredictable reads, this one’s for you. Expect chilling twists and turns!
A huge thanks to Lesley Hill for sending me a copy of this debut; it’s earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf.
February 17, 2026
i thought i had it figured out at multiple points, turns out i was completely wrong. one of the only three books that have ever truly shocked me, and that i havent been able to guess the ending to.
i'm honoured to have a family member so talented, and im pleased to have read this book
i'm honoured to have a family member so talented, and im pleased to have read this book
December 30, 2025
A haunting telling of internal thoughts out of control.
I was deeply intrigued by this dark overlay that seems to exist over the newfound friendship between Elizabeth and Eve. I wanted to root for Elizabeth but was also worried for her throughout and seeking the answers to her family history.
Whisperings is a reminder that all is not what it seems and everyone has their own perspective that lean into at times.
Highly recommend to those who like digging for truths and thrillers!
I was deeply intrigued by this dark overlay that seems to exist over the newfound friendship between Elizabeth and Eve. I wanted to root for Elizabeth but was also worried for her throughout and seeking the answers to her family history.
Whisperings is a reminder that all is not what it seems and everyone has their own perspective that lean into at times.
Highly recommend to those who like digging for truths and thrillers!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews