What do you think?
Rate this book
The Voice in the Wind Phone
The first Kaze no Denwa, also known as the Wind Phone, was an unconnected telephone booth located in Otsuchi, Japan, where grieving family members could come to mourn and speak in one-way conversations to departed loved ones. When Zoe Luna visits a Wind Phone on the Arroyo Park Trail, the impossible happens. She hears her deceased mother’s voice on the other end of the ‘dead’ line pleading with her daughter to help solve her murder.
Afraid to go to the police, she enlists the help of her former English professor, Noah Winter, who reluctantly agrees. As Noah begins to uncover lurid secrets surrounding the murder, he must come to terms with the question that has plagued him from the start: Did the ghost of Zoe’s mother really speak to her daughter from beyond the grave, or was something far more sinister on the other end of that connection?
Afraid to go to the police, she enlists the help of her former English professor, Noah Winter, who reluctantly agrees. As Noah begins to uncover lurid secrets surrounding the murder, he must come to terms with the question that has plagued him from the start: Did the ghost of Zoe’s mother really speak to her daughter from beyond the grave, or was something far more sinister on the other end of that connection?
365 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 27, 2026
I went into this novel with the complete wrong expectations. I thought this would be more about the supernatural aspect of what comes from a Kaze no Denwa; there's one call. The phone call is mentioned a few times (obviously important) and visited once. That's it. There is no actual discussion or mention in the actual story of examples or stories from others who have used it or even lore surrounding the phone itself. Noah was an ok pov, the story could have happened without him after meeting Serena though. I also wish the part when they are eating tacos and referencing the Mexican food and ingredients was edited by a native speaker/ Mexican. There were many things that made no sense or were grammatically incorrect. The ending was meh, they tried to wrap up the ending with a supernatural type ending.
I received this ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received this ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a digital copy of this book courtesy of LibraryThing Early Reviewers and the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 stars. Exactly what it says on the tin: a young woman, overcome with grief about her mother's still-unsolved murder, goes to a wind phone to process her grief. Incredibly, she hears a voice on the line - her mother's voice - pleading with her to catch her killer.
The woman knows that the police will think she's crazy, so she turns to a former English instructor, Noah Winter, for help. Winter is the author of a best-selling true-crime book about a serial killer, but has not had much luck with his second manuscript. He's adjuncting at the local community college, and has tepid worries that he may be asked to throw his hat in the ring for a full-time job.
Winter is intrigued by the story the young woman tells him, and agrees to look into things, though he's the first to admit he's no detective. He finds a tangled web around the woman and her brother, and while tailing their father, he runs into Serena Grimm, a PI (who is also apparently a series character for this author). He manages to convince Serena to take on the case and let him tag along, as he's hatched the idea that this would make a good follow-up to his first published work.
Serena and Winter team up and run through the possibilities. Who would want to kill this woman? She'd been divorced for years, so would her ex really care enough to do it? What about her former boyfriend(s)? Are her kids truly innocent of the crime, as they claim?
This was a compelling read - I finished it in one day, and the flow of the story made me want to keep turning the pages. I was a little disappointed that the wind phone doesn't play a more meaningful role - that was the hook that originally grabbed me - but the denouement was pretty okay. There are lots of red herrings tossed about, and pretty much no one on the suspect list was likeable, but the ending was a bit of a letdown (the motive is never really explained, beyond "crazy", and the plot twists that end up the theory of the crime were a bit far-fetched, even for a contemporary mystery ). Nonetheless, it is a very readable book. I especially appreciated that there was no romantic intention from Winter towards his former student, and he manages to keep his pants feelings for Serena to himself until the end.
There are a couple of sub-plots going on: Winter is raising his younger sibling, a sister, and is at times at a loss of how to handle her teenage crises; he's waiting for her to graduate from high school and go off to college so he himself can start living his life on his own terms. There's also the thread about a tenure-track position at the community college where he teaches; his tepid attitude about that whole process just REEKS of wealthy-white-man-of-privilege, so I'm glad it wasn't a huge part of the story.
I liked Winter okay, as our first person present tense narrator, and Serena was pretty awesome (though I don't think she would actually plead with people as much as she does here if she's really a badass). I didn't guess whodunit until our heroes were literally tied up, which is always a plus. There were a couple of continuity errors, but nothing terribly glaring. I'd definitely be willing to read this author again, and it's ben one of the better mysteries I've had the pleasure of reading from EarlyReviewers.
3.5 stars. Exactly what it says on the tin: a young woman, overcome with grief about her mother's still-unsolved murder, goes to a wind phone to process her grief. Incredibly, she hears a voice on the line - her mother's voice - pleading with her to catch her killer.
The woman knows that the police will think she's crazy, so she turns to a former English instructor, Noah Winter, for help. Winter is the author of a best-selling true-crime book about a serial killer, but has not had much luck with his second manuscript. He's adjuncting at the local community college, and has tepid worries that he may be asked to throw his hat in the ring for a full-time job.
Winter is intrigued by the story the young woman tells him, and agrees to look into things, though he's the first to admit he's no detective. He finds a tangled web around the woman and her brother, and while tailing their father, he runs into Serena Grimm, a PI (who is also apparently a series character for this author). He manages to convince Serena to take on the case and let him tag along, as he's hatched the idea that this would make a good follow-up to his first published work.
Serena and Winter team up and run through the possibilities. Who would want to kill this woman? She'd been divorced for years, so would her ex really care enough to do it? What about her former boyfriend(s)? Are her kids truly innocent of the crime, as they claim?
This was a compelling read - I finished it in one day, and the flow of the story made me want to keep turning the pages. I was a little disappointed that the wind phone doesn't play a more meaningful role - that was the hook that originally grabbed me - but the denouement was pretty okay. There are lots of red herrings tossed about, and pretty much no one on the suspect list was likeable, but the ending was a bit of a letdown (the motive is never really explained, beyond "crazy", and the plot twists that end up the theory of the crime were a bit far-fetched, even for a contemporary mystery ). Nonetheless, it is a very readable book. I especially appreciated that there was no romantic intention from Winter towards his former student, and he manages to keep his pants feelings for Serena to himself until the end.
There are a couple of sub-plots going on: Winter is raising his younger sibling, a sister, and is at times at a loss of how to handle her teenage crises; he's waiting for her to graduate from high school and go off to college so he himself can start living his life on his own terms. There's also the thread about a tenure-track position at the community college where he teaches; his tepid attitude about that whole process just REEKS of wealthy-white-man-of-privilege, so I'm glad it wasn't a huge part of the story.
I liked Winter okay, as our first person present tense narrator, and Serena was pretty awesome (though I don't think she would actually plead with people as much as she does here if she's really a badass). I didn't guess whodunit until our heroes were literally tied up, which is always a plus. There were a couple of continuity errors, but nothing terribly glaring. I'd definitely be willing to read this author again, and it's ben one of the better mysteries I've had the pleasure of reading from EarlyReviewers.
April 9, 2026
I love how the author uses the Kaze no Denwa as the spark that ignites the search into a mothers murder.
I have heard about the Kaze no Denwa and loved that the author used this as a way to move the story forward. This is also called a wind phone. It began in Otsuchi, Japan, when Itaru Sasaki put an unconnected rotary phone in the garden booth so that he could talk to his loved ones that had passed with thoughts and words that were "carried on the wind". I just think this is such a beautiful way to grieve for those of us left behind.
Zoe is grieving her mother's death that happened a year ago. Zoe and her brother, Mack, have pestered the PD to find out who stabbed her mother, but they have gotten no answers. One day, Zoe walks on the trail in the woods to a Kaze no Denwa, or wind phone. She begins to talk into the phone, when suddenly her mother's voice replies. She tells Zoe to find her killer, and leaves a strange set of numbers before her voice fades out.
Zoe clings to the voice, and approaches her former college teacher, Noah Winter, for help. Noah had previously written a best seller about a serial killer. He tries to explain that he is not an investigator, but he feels sorry for Zoe and her brother, and decides to look into it. Then he meets Serena. After a few occurrences, he realizes he needs the help of a real detective, and thus their partnership is made.
There are many characters involved in the story, and each is connected to Zoe's mom in some way. There are also secrets and a few twists.
I love the direction that the author has taken with Serena. The reader gets a much better feeling and understanding about her, and she comes across as very relatable. I absolutely loved Noah. He is struggling to keep up with his teaching, writing, and helping his 17 year old sister, Tova, figure out what she wants in life. Yet he is compassionate, funny and a stand up kind of guy!
The case is interesting, and I honestly wasn't sure who had done the deed. But when it was all fleshed out, it made sense.
This is a mystery, police procedural that also has strong characters that I enjoy getting to know! Looking forward to the next one!!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I have heard about the Kaze no Denwa and loved that the author used this as a way to move the story forward. This is also called a wind phone. It began in Otsuchi, Japan, when Itaru Sasaki put an unconnected rotary phone in the garden booth so that he could talk to his loved ones that had passed with thoughts and words that were "carried on the wind". I just think this is such a beautiful way to grieve for those of us left behind.
Zoe is grieving her mother's death that happened a year ago. Zoe and her brother, Mack, have pestered the PD to find out who stabbed her mother, but they have gotten no answers. One day, Zoe walks on the trail in the woods to a Kaze no Denwa, or wind phone. She begins to talk into the phone, when suddenly her mother's voice replies. She tells Zoe to find her killer, and leaves a strange set of numbers before her voice fades out.
Zoe clings to the voice, and approaches her former college teacher, Noah Winter, for help. Noah had previously written a best seller about a serial killer. He tries to explain that he is not an investigator, but he feels sorry for Zoe and her brother, and decides to look into it. Then he meets Serena. After a few occurrences, he realizes he needs the help of a real detective, and thus their partnership is made.
There are many characters involved in the story, and each is connected to Zoe's mom in some way. There are also secrets and a few twists.
I love the direction that the author has taken with Serena. The reader gets a much better feeling and understanding about her, and she comes across as very relatable. I absolutely loved Noah. He is struggling to keep up with his teaching, writing, and helping his 17 year old sister, Tova, figure out what she wants in life. Yet he is compassionate, funny and a stand up kind of guy!
The case is interesting, and I honestly wasn't sure who had done the deed. But when it was all fleshed out, it made sense.
This is a mystery, police procedural that also has strong characters that I enjoy getting to know! Looking forward to the next one!!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
May 20, 2026
I was fascinated by the concept of a Wind Phone, or Kaze no Denwa, which I hadn’t known about before reading this novel, and was intrigued to find out how it would feature within the structure of this story. The opening scene in which Zoe uses the Wind Phone to speak to her dead mother, and hears her mother’s voice in return, urging Zoe to find her killer, creates intrigue from the very beginning. I was riveted by the series of events that quickly unfolded, placing the reader right into the heart of the mystery, when Zoe seeks help from her former English Professor, Noah Winter, who has previously written a true crime best seller, and is the novel’s main protagonist and narrator. He’s an immensely engaging and likeable character with a great personality and occasional touch of humour thrown in, and despite his initial reluctance to help with this curious request ~ I mean just because he once wrote about a crime, doesn’t mean he can solve one right? ~ he sticks steadfastly to his pledge to try and help this former student, enlisting his own means of help along the way. The story gives us a bit of everything and really kept me guessing all the way through, so I found it very compelling. There are some decent red herrings, dark secrets, mysterious puzzles, multiple suspects and motives, and the question that consistently lingered for me as I tried to fathom “whodunit”, was, am I looking straight at the killer all along? In conjunction to all the twists and turns, a lovely relationship is also blossoming along the way, and I was interested to see what happened there as well.
All in all, I found this to be a cracking mystery, and was promptly lured by the easy-to-read and enjoyable writing style and engaging character voices, and the captivating series of events in the hunt for the killer.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity of reading an advance copy via LibraryThing ~ this is my honest and unbiased review.
All in all, I found this to be a cracking mystery, and was promptly lured by the easy-to-read and enjoyable writing style and engaging character voices, and the captivating series of events in the hunt for the killer.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity of reading an advance copy via LibraryThing ~ this is my honest and unbiased review.
January 6, 2026
You had me at Wind Phone.
This was my first time hearing about Kaze no Denwa (Wind Phone) so when I Googled it and learnt that it was a real thing, I was immediately intrigued by the concept of this book.
A young woman hears her mother’s voice in a Wind Phone asking her to solve her murder. The young woman, Zoe Luna, asks her former teacher, Noah Winter, who wrote a bestseller about a past local murder, to help. At first, Noah was reluctant to take the case but eventually he does and he enlists the help from a private detective, Serena Grimm.
This was a great read from start to finish. The concept was original and executed perfectly. It was fast-paced and read like a short story that you could finish in one sitting.
The relationship amongst the siblings was warm touch to the story. It reminds me of the old saying: Be kind to your siblings. They’re your closest link to the past and the ones most likely to be there for you in the future. Nothing could be further from the truth as it relates to Noah and his younger sister, Tova, and with Zoe and her brother, Mack.
Any disappointment that I have would be superficial. Noah Winter strikes me as the type of character that you could build a series around. So my disappointment would be that this is not the second book in the series as I’d absolutely love to read his best-selling novel: The Jesse Rue Murders.
Thank you BookSirens and William Michael Davidson for the opportunity to read and review The Voice in the Wind Phone. This novel is to be published on April 7, 2026.
This was my first time hearing about Kaze no Denwa (Wind Phone) so when I Googled it and learnt that it was a real thing, I was immediately intrigued by the concept of this book.
A young woman hears her mother’s voice in a Wind Phone asking her to solve her murder. The young woman, Zoe Luna, asks her former teacher, Noah Winter, who wrote a bestseller about a past local murder, to help. At first, Noah was reluctant to take the case but eventually he does and he enlists the help from a private detective, Serena Grimm.
This was a great read from start to finish. The concept was original and executed perfectly. It was fast-paced and read like a short story that you could finish in one sitting.
The relationship amongst the siblings was warm touch to the story. It reminds me of the old saying: Be kind to your siblings. They’re your closest link to the past and the ones most likely to be there for you in the future. Nothing could be further from the truth as it relates to Noah and his younger sister, Tova, and with Zoe and her brother, Mack.
Any disappointment that I have would be superficial. Noah Winter strikes me as the type of character that you could build a series around. So my disappointment would be that this is not the second book in the series as I’d absolutely love to read his best-selling novel: The Jesse Rue Murders.
Thank you BookSirens and William Michael Davidson for the opportunity to read and review The Voice in the Wind Phone. This novel is to be published on April 7, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Voice in the Wind Phone is a beautifully crafted mystery with an emotional core that stays with you long after the final page. Davidson blends grief, hope, and suspense into a story that feels both intimate and thrilling.
At the heart of the novel is the wind phone itself—a real, unconnected telephone that people visit to speak to loved ones they’ve lost. Davidson uses this concept brilliantly. It becomes a place of healing, confession, and unexpected revelation, giving the book a haunting atmosphere that feels both magical and deeply human.
The MMC and MFC form a compelling investigative duo. Their personalities contrast in ways that create sharp, engaging dialogue, and their cooperation grows naturally as the story unfolds. Together, they unravel clues surrounding a murder that initially appears straightforward but quickly becomes far more complex.
The murder case begins with a shocking discovery that ripples through a small community. As the investigators dig deeper, they uncover hidden connections, buried motives, and long‑kept secrets. Davidson keeps the tension tight with well‑timed twists that never feel forced, each one pushing the characters, and the reader, closer to an unexpected truth.
This book is a rare blend of emotional depth and gripping mystery. Davidson’s storytelling is immersive, the pacing is excellent, and the wind phone adds a unique, unforgettable layer to the narrative. A standout read that absolutely deserves five stars.
At the heart of the novel is the wind phone itself—a real, unconnected telephone that people visit to speak to loved ones they’ve lost. Davidson uses this concept brilliantly. It becomes a place of healing, confession, and unexpected revelation, giving the book a haunting atmosphere that feels both magical and deeply human.
The MMC and MFC form a compelling investigative duo. Their personalities contrast in ways that create sharp, engaging dialogue, and their cooperation grows naturally as the story unfolds. Together, they unravel clues surrounding a murder that initially appears straightforward but quickly becomes far more complex.
The murder case begins with a shocking discovery that ripples through a small community. As the investigators dig deeper, they uncover hidden connections, buried motives, and long‑kept secrets. Davidson keeps the tension tight with well‑timed twists that never feel forced, each one pushing the characters, and the reader, closer to an unexpected truth.
This book is a rare blend of emotional depth and gripping mystery. Davidson’s storytelling is immersive, the pacing is excellent, and the wind phone adds a unique, unforgettable layer to the narrative. A standout read that absolutely deserves five stars.
Review of advance copy
The Voice in the Wind Phone by William Michael Davidson is a quick-moving mystery that kept me interested until the very last page. One year after the murder of her mother, Zoe Luna goes to a wind phone on the Arroyo Park Trail in hopes of finding some solace. While there, Zoe hears the voice of her mother asking her to find her killer. Fearing the detectives on the case will think she is crazy Zoe goes to her old English professor Noah Winter. Years ago, he had released a best-selling novel about a killer. She hopes he can help her figure out what happened to her mother because of this.
This novel is full of several unexpected twists and turns. Once I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down; I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Both Noah and Serena felt real and relatable, and their chemistry was adorable. I especially liked Noah’s sister Tova; she was the perfect combination of sweet, sassy, and smart. Having all the characters still experience normal day to day life was a smart choice, as it gave the characters even more depth. The mystery was well written, and all loose ends were expertly tied up by the end. I also loved the addition of the wind phone; these places of grieving are not talked about all that often. This is an excellent start to a new detective series. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This novel is full of several unexpected twists and turns. Once I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down; I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Both Noah and Serena felt real and relatable, and their chemistry was adorable. I especially liked Noah’s sister Tova; she was the perfect combination of sweet, sassy, and smart. Having all the characters still experience normal day to day life was a smart choice, as it gave the characters even more depth. The mystery was well written, and all loose ends were expertly tied up by the end. I also loved the addition of the wind phone; these places of grieving are not talked about all that often. This is an excellent start to a new detective series. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Zoe’s life is shattered when her mother is brutally murdered in their family home while she and her brother sleep through the night. With the case gone cold and no clear way to process her grief, Zoe turns to the wind phone—hoping for comfort, not answers. But to her surprise, her mother seems to leave behind a mysterious message: a series of numbers that may be key to solving the murder.
Unsure and afraid to involve the police, Zoe reaches out to her former college writing professor, now an author, to help her piece together the clues. What follows is a journey not just into the mystery, but into Noah’s life as he becomes deeply involved in uncovering the truth.
The cover immediately drew me in—it’s eerie, atmospheric, and perfectly sets the tone for the story. The short chapters made this a quick and easy read, which I really appreciated. However, I did find myself wishing for a bit more suspense throughout. While the story includes a lot of detail, some of it felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing.
It’s also worth noting that the summary only touches on a small part of the story. Much of the book focuses on Noah and his personal life as he works alongside Zoe, which may or may not align with reader expectations.
Overall, this was an interesting and enjoyable read with a unique premise, even if it didn’t fully deliver on the suspense I was hoping for.
Zoe’s life is shattered when her mother is brutally murdered in their family home while she and her brother sleep through the night. With the case gone cold and no clear way to process her grief, Zoe turns to the wind phone—hoping for comfort, not answers. But to her surprise, her mother seems to leave behind a mysterious message: a series of numbers that may be key to solving the murder.
Unsure and afraid to involve the police, Zoe reaches out to her former college writing professor, now an author, to help her piece together the clues. What follows is a journey not just into the mystery, but into Noah’s life as he becomes deeply involved in uncovering the truth.
The cover immediately drew me in—it’s eerie, atmospheric, and perfectly sets the tone for the story. The short chapters made this a quick and easy read, which I really appreciated. However, I did find myself wishing for a bit more suspense throughout. While the story includes a lot of detail, some of it felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing.
It’s also worth noting that the summary only touches on a small part of the story. Much of the book focuses on Noah and his personal life as he works alongside Zoe, which may or may not align with reader expectations.
Overall, this was an interesting and enjoyable read with a unique premise, even if it didn’t fully deliver on the suspense I was hoping for.
Review of advance copy
Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this is an honest review.
Author William Michael Davidson has written, truly a breathtaking emotional story with his latest book The Voice In The Wind Phone.
For Zoe Luna and her brother their world was shattered the day their mom was ruthlessly murdered; when Zoe turns to a local Wind Phone to find solace... the experience turns into a journey for justice no one truly expected. English professor Noah Winter remembers Zoe and her writing but never imagined she would confide in him her experience at the Wind Phone, desperate Noah can help find the person who murdered her mother- Amberly. And while Noah is struggling to raise a young sister, find job security and hope to the universe he Jas more than a single published book in him; he doesn't abandon Zoe when she fears if people she heard her dad mom they'd think she's lost a hold onto reality. The unexpected partnership of Detective Serena Grimm brings Amberly case out into the open as they and local police unravel the insane complexity of twisted relationships that have come to define the Luna family. The truth of it all makes one woman's death all the more sad... destroyed by the consequences.
Highly recommended.
Author William Michael Davidson has written, truly a breathtaking emotional story with his latest book The Voice In The Wind Phone.
For Zoe Luna and her brother their world was shattered the day their mom was ruthlessly murdered; when Zoe turns to a local Wind Phone to find solace... the experience turns into a journey for justice no one truly expected. English professor Noah Winter remembers Zoe and her writing but never imagined she would confide in him her experience at the Wind Phone, desperate Noah can help find the person who murdered her mother- Amberly. And while Noah is struggling to raise a young sister, find job security and hope to the universe he Jas more than a single published book in him; he doesn't abandon Zoe when she fears if people she heard her dad mom they'd think she's lost a hold onto reality. The unexpected partnership of Detective Serena Grimm brings Amberly case out into the open as they and local police unravel the insane complexity of twisted relationships that have come to define the Luna family. The truth of it all makes one woman's death all the more sad... destroyed by the consequences.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book as an ARC copy from Netgalley.
This book was suspenseful, interesting, well written, and kept me guessing until the end. I was hoping it would end up being some type of supernatural force at work, but the ending was still very good. The characters were very well developed, sometimes a little too well developed. It put me in mind of how Stephen King gives lengthy descriptions that I sometimes get frustrated with, but they didn’t make me want to skip parts or put the book down. Davidson is a talented author and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Summary: Zoe and Mack have lost their mother. She was murdered in the kitchen of their house. As a way to cope with the tragedy, Zoe hears about wind-phones, unconnected phones set out in nature where people can call and talk to lost loved ones, offering a chance to get some closure and come to terms with their loss. During this call, Zoe hears a broken voice which she is sure is her dead mother, asking her to find her murderer. Determined to solve the cold case, Zoe turns to her former college professor, author Noah Winter, to help solve the murder. What follows is a parade of suspects, dead ends and twists that keep you guessing till the end.
This book was suspenseful, interesting, well written, and kept me guessing until the end. I was hoping it would end up being some type of supernatural force at work, but the ending was still very good. The characters were very well developed, sometimes a little too well developed. It put me in mind of how Stephen King gives lengthy descriptions that I sometimes get frustrated with, but they didn’t make me want to skip parts or put the book down. Davidson is a talented author and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Summary: Zoe and Mack have lost their mother. She was murdered in the kitchen of their house. As a way to cope with the tragedy, Zoe hears about wind-phones, unconnected phones set out in nature where people can call and talk to lost loved ones, offering a chance to get some closure and come to terms with their loss. During this call, Zoe hears a broken voice which she is sure is her dead mother, asking her to find her murderer. Determined to solve the cold case, Zoe turns to her former college professor, author Noah Winter, to help solve the murder. What follows is a parade of suspects, dead ends and twists that keep you guessing till the end.
December 19, 2025
Review: A Touching Mystery with Heart
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Voice in the Wind Phone. This was my first time reading this author, and I was initially drawn in by the title. Having read the history behind the original "Wind Phone" in Japan, I was curious to see how it would be used here.
While I was initially a bit disappointed that the Wind Phone wasn't more central to the early plot, I quickly found myself absorbed in the characters. The relationship between Noah and his sister, Tova, was incredibly engaging and felt very authentic. I also really enjoyed Serena and I truly hope to see her and Noah continue their journey together in future installments.
The book has a great pace and kept me guessing. Although I was a little skeptical about how solving the crime unfolded, the final chapters tied everything together perfectly—and I was so happy to see the Wind Phone return to the spotlight at the end.
As someone who rarely gives 5-star ratings, a 4.5 is a high recommendation from me. I look forward to hopefully reading more about Noah, Tova, and Serena!
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Voice in the Wind Phone. This was my first time reading this author, and I was initially drawn in by the title. Having read the history behind the original "Wind Phone" in Japan, I was curious to see how it would be used here.
While I was initially a bit disappointed that the Wind Phone wasn't more central to the early plot, I quickly found myself absorbed in the characters. The relationship between Noah and his sister, Tova, was incredibly engaging and felt very authentic. I also really enjoyed Serena and I truly hope to see her and Noah continue their journey together in future installments.
The book has a great pace and kept me guessing. Although I was a little skeptical about how solving the crime unfolded, the final chapters tied everything together perfectly—and I was so happy to see the Wind Phone return to the spotlight at the end.
As someone who rarely gives 5-star ratings, a 4.5 is a high recommendation from me. I look forward to hopefully reading more about Noah, Tova, and Serena!
January 13, 2026
I’m a big fan of William Michael Davidson’s Otto Haines and Serena Grimm series. The pace of this book is a little slower compared to that series, but the ending made up for it. Also, Serena returns, and she’s a great character.
One minor complaint: Serena, who is a private investigator, and Noah Winter, an adjunct community college professor and writer, meet the spouse of one of Serena’s clients. This seemed unnecessary and it took attention away from the main story, a murder investigation that Noah is asked to help with by one of his former students because the police haven’t found any suspects.
I liked that Otto Haines, Serena’s mentor and former partner in the Long Beach police department, was mentioned and I enjoyed the relationship between Serena and Tova, Noah’s sister. I work at a community college, so I appreciated Noah’s descriptions of being an adjunct and of some of the students in his writing class. I hope Davidson will write at least one more book with Serena and Noah.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One minor complaint: Serena, who is a private investigator, and Noah Winter, an adjunct community college professor and writer, meet the spouse of one of Serena’s clients. This seemed unnecessary and it took attention away from the main story, a murder investigation that Noah is asked to help with by one of his former students because the police haven’t found any suspects.
I liked that Otto Haines, Serena’s mentor and former partner in the Long Beach police department, was mentioned and I enjoyed the relationship between Serena and Tova, Noah’s sister. I work at a community college, so I appreciated Noah’s descriptions of being an adjunct and of some of the students in his writing class. I hope Davidson will write at least one more book with Serena and Noah.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
January 27, 2026I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I enjoyed this book. It was one I got into from the start. I'd never heard of Wind phones but apparently they are a real thing in some parts of the US. It's simply an old dial phone not connected to anything, with no working parts inside, fixed on to a tree or something, somewhere with relative privacy. The idea is that anyone can pick up the phone and "speak" to someone who has died and say whatever they wish to say . A young student picks up a wind phone to speak to her murdered mother - and hears her mother speak back. Obviously impossible, so she asks her former English teacher, who has written a best selling book about a murder, to help her find out what happened to her mother. What happens next is a is an interesting, twisty investigation with a hint of slow burn romance in the background. The denouement is not what I expected, although there were hints. The book ended quite suddenly with the hero thinking that life was going to get more interesting. I think it this was a lead in to a series, I'd like to read it.
Review of advance copy
This is the most engrossing and compelling story I have read in a long time (And that's saying something because I devour crime stories). I had never heard of a wind phone before and assumed Mr. Davidson had created it up as a unique plot element, but the further I read, the more curious I got, so I had to Google. It is a real thing. Now I'm on a quest to find a wind phone nearby, or I may have to set up one. Be prepared to be captivated by this story. It has all of the elements crime fans love: intriguing characters, twisting and turning plot elements, suspense, unexpected revelations, and high tension that has the reader almost holding their breath to see what will develop. This is the first book by Mr. Davidson I have read, but I hope to find more to enjoy. The characters in this story are multifaceted and relatable. I hope Mr. Davidson plans to make this a long-running series. If he does, I will be first in line to grab the newest copy. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.
April 17, 2026
There's a lot to like but for me, a lot to not like. The wind phone is an interesting concept and hooked me from the start. I love the idea of it, the Kaze no Denwa, as a way to express grief. But it really plays such a minor role here. Yes, it's how the whole plot began but I don't feel like there was a meaningful exploration of the concept. And the big thing that I absolutely don't like is how Noah Winter (professor to whom Zoe goes to for help finding her mother's killer) decides to monetize Zoe and Mack's grief so that he can produce another best seller. How low can you go?? If he rang my doorbell to talk about the murder, I wouldn't answer. He has very few meaningful questions, it seems like he asks the same thing over and over. The dialogue is stilted at times and he mysteriously has a fortune and doesn't really need a full time job, as evidenced by his disinterest in even just completing the application for a position. Nothing warm and fuzzy to see here, move along.
This ARC was provided by BookSirens and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
This ARC was provided by BookSirens and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
April 8, 2026
This was definitely an interesting take on the detective story that kept me guessing from page one.
I liked Noah well enough, but I liked Serena even more! I enjoy their dynamic and how they partnered to solve the mystery together. This story also had a lot more personal moments between the characters than I was expecting but I liked that. It was nice to get a bit more insight on their dynamics and made me feel more invested in the story.
The mystery itself had a lot of twists and turns. I was disappointed at one point when I thought it was turning out a certain way and then the final twist happened that I did NOT expect and that turned it around for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this and will definitely check out more in this series in the future!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked Noah well enough, but I liked Serena even more! I enjoy their dynamic and how they partnered to solve the mystery together. This story also had a lot more personal moments between the characters than I was expecting but I liked that. It was nice to get a bit more insight on their dynamics and made me feel more invested in the story.
The mystery itself had a lot of twists and turns. I was disappointed at one point when I thought it was turning out a certain way and then the final twist happened that I did NOT expect and that turned it around for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this and will definitely check out more in this series in the future!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 8, 2026
Nice who-done-it mystery.
Noah Winters is asked to solve the murder of the mother of a former student, Zoe. Zoe went to a wind phone, where you say what you want to a person close to you has died. She swears her mother talked to her and told her a string of numbers.
Noah, learns that the string of numbers represent a location. He goes there and finds the "potential" murder weapon. Not wanting get involved, he mails it to the police.
This puts him and his new partner, PI Serena Grimm, in the bullseye of the police. At the same time, Tova, Noah's sister connects with Serena.
Through nice twists and turns, Noah and Serena have a potential suspect, but the police don't believe them.
But luckily they did. Nice ending for Serena, Tova, and Noah. I enjoyed the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Noah Winters is asked to solve the murder of the mother of a former student, Zoe. Zoe went to a wind phone, where you say what you want to a person close to you has died. She swears her mother talked to her and told her a string of numbers.
Noah, learns that the string of numbers represent a location. He goes there and finds the "potential" murder weapon. Not wanting get involved, he mails it to the police.
This puts him and his new partner, PI Serena Grimm, in the bullseye of the police. At the same time, Tova, Noah's sister connects with Serena.
Through nice twists and turns, Noah and Serena have a potential suspect, but the police don't believe them.
But luckily they did. Nice ending for Serena, Tova, and Noah. I enjoyed the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
When I first got this book, I didn't know what to expect. I for one have never heard of a wind phone and so when a voice appears in a disconnected phone it seemed a little creepy. Thankfully, Zoe, heeded the advice on the other end of the phone and sought help locating the killer of her mother.
I really enjoyed reading this story, from Zoe and her brother, Noah and the PI he hires to help him. Even Kellogg. This was a great investigative story, with some little bit of a showdown at the end. I hope there is more to come…
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed reading this story, from Zoe and her brother, Noah and the PI he hires to help him. Even Kellogg. This was a great investigative story, with some little bit of a showdown at the end. I hope there is more to come…
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I was immediatlye interested about wind phones! I had never heard of them before and after eading this, I thinkthey should be installed in every botanic garden.
The entire story is such a different concept and I had my suspucions but I was completly wrong. It is refreshing to read a story such as this and I hope tha this author produces more oif high quality.
The characters were well written, the idea, novel and kept the reader engaged throughout.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The entire story is such a different concept and I had my suspucions but I was completly wrong. It is refreshing to read a story such as this and I hope tha this author produces more oif high quality.
The characters were well written, the idea, novel and kept the reader engaged throughout.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. I was lured in by the wind phone, but I stayed because of the amazing characters and relationships. Noah Winter was such a relatable and likable character. The way he interacted with his sister, Tova, Serena, and his students all helped the story develop. The mystery was intriguing and I was on the edge of my seat at the end. I would definitely read another book by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
The Voice in the Wind Phone is a thrilling mystery by William Michael Davidson. I thought that this mystery was unique for a non fantasy book. Zoe went to the tree phone in the forest to "talk" to her dead mother. What Zoe was not expecting was her dead mother talking back to her. I enjoyed the characters and I felt that the action and emotions kept me turning the pages. I thought that this author wrote an excellent book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
December 23, 2025
omg this book 😮
i loved it so much that i couldn't put it down.
I loved Noah & Serena they worked together so well 🩵
I was drawn to the book as i've never heard of Wind phones before & it sounded really interesting. I'm so thankful that they approved my request on netgalley as this seriously is one of my top favourite reads 🩵
i loved it so much that i couldn't put it down.
I loved Noah & Serena they worked together so well 🩵
I was drawn to the book as i've never heard of Wind phones before & it sounded really interesting. I'm so thankful that they approved my request on netgalley as this seriously is one of my top favourite reads 🩵
May 19, 2026
What an awesome story. Based in part on an actual wind phone in Japan to grieve the dead. This story will stay with you long after you've finished. I'm not into police procedurals, but I loved the idea of the grieving phone. There's plenty of suspense and twist.
May 17, 2026
The book is a very interesting concept of a murder mystery. It has an eerie element of the supernatural, mixed with the depth of mental health. Noah is very likable as a writer and detective for the case, and he gave the whole story a different touch of what I was expecting. Overall, it is a four-star reading.
Review of advance copy
THE VOICE IN THE WIND PHONE - Interesting story lines. Good characters. Slow start but no rehash of previous books. Grimm is a character from The Messenger of Madness. Source: BookSirens. 4*
THE MESSENGER OF MADNESS - While I was not sure I did right selecting this book, since the beginning rehashed too much of the previous books in this series, I ended up immersed in the interesting story lines. I like the characters and the investigations. Source: BookSirens. 4*
THE MESSENGER OF MADNESS - While I was not sure I did right selecting this book, since the beginning rehashed too much of the previous books in this series, I ended up immersed in the interesting story lines. I like the characters and the investigations. Source: BookSirens. 4*
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews