What do you think?
Rate this book
Whirlwind
"An outstanding psychological thriller with bizarre twists and unexpected turns"
Booklist Starred Review
A ruthless psychopath with a long-held grudge unleashes a terrifying scheme of revenge on a small New England town in this tautly-paced, compelling thriller.
Liza Plain, a Boston-based journalist hoping for her big break, is dreading spending Christmas in Shiloh, Rhode Island, with her difficult grandfather - until news of the disappearance of a retired local priest triggers her realization that this could be linked to a series of unsolved, church-linked missing persons cases.
Michael Rider used to be a decent man with a good life, but a past traumatic event with far-reaching consequences has left him dangerously close to breaking point. Now he is receiving strange emails from an organisation calling itself Whirlwind, offering him the chance to avenge himself on those who've done him wrong.
Liza and Michael will both be in Shiloh on Christmas Eve. The night a raging blizzard seals off the town from the outside world. The night an outrage is perpetrated - and Liza will find herself at the heart of a major news story, caught in an abyss of nightmarish discovery and life-threatening danger.
Booklist Starred Review
A ruthless psychopath with a long-held grudge unleashes a terrifying scheme of revenge on a small New England town in this tautly-paced, compelling thriller.
Liza Plain, a Boston-based journalist hoping for her big break, is dreading spending Christmas in Shiloh, Rhode Island, with her difficult grandfather - until news of the disappearance of a retired local priest triggers her realization that this could be linked to a series of unsolved, church-linked missing persons cases.
Michael Rider used to be a decent man with a good life, but a past traumatic event with far-reaching consequences has left him dangerously close to breaking point. Now he is receiving strange emails from an organisation calling itself Whirlwind, offering him the chance to avenge himself on those who've done him wrong.
Liza and Michael will both be in Shiloh on Christmas Eve. The night a raging blizzard seals off the town from the outside world. The night an outrage is perpetrated - and Liza will find herself at the heart of a major news story, caught in an abyss of nightmarish discovery and life-threatening danger.
- GenresMystery
240 pages, Hardcover
First published December 9, 2016
10 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Norman
50 books38 followersBorn and raised in London, loved reading but deeply lazy about writing at school, preferring drama. A brief acting career, then moved into the production side at the BBC's radio drama department - later at London's Capital Radio, by which time the writing "switch" had been flicked on. Spent as much time as possible travelling in the US, working and writing. First novel, IN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP published in 1986 after five years of writing. Wrote sagas with big dramatic finishes in the early days, and then, as the body count rose, made the move into psychological suspense and thrillers. Last book LAST RUN soon out in trade paperback, and the latest (and 20th) -RALPH'S CHILDREN - out soon in hardcover.
Living in London with husband Jonathan, and dog Poppy.
Living in London with husband Jonathan, and dog Poppy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 14, 2017
Michael Rider is a good man ... or at least he was. An event that occurred even before he was born cost him and his family everything. His grandfather was an accused murderer. Which led to his daughter (Rider's mother) leading a less than good life. She eventually turned to pills and booze which cost her her life. He is now angry and bitter.
Liza Plain is a journalist. She is floundering in her life, and is now dreading the thought of spending Christmas with a grandfather who hates her.
When their lives intersect, Liza finds herself embroiled not only in a decades old murder, but also the series of unsolved, church-linked missing persons.
The first half of the book is little slow, but the author sets up the characters who all play such an important part of the story. A psychopath gives Michael the chance for revenge on a small town, Shiloh, in New England.
It's the second half on the book that nearly took my breath away. It's chilling, and the fear and suspense ratchets higher and higher until the very explosive end. People are going to die. Secrets and lies will be exposed. The ending is something the reader never sees coming.
Many thanks to the author / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of WHIRLWIND. Opinions voiced here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Liza Plain is a journalist. She is floundering in her life, and is now dreading the thought of spending Christmas with a grandfather who hates her.
When their lives intersect, Liza finds herself embroiled not only in a decades old murder, but also the series of unsolved, church-linked missing persons.
The first half of the book is little slow, but the author sets up the characters who all play such an important part of the story. A psychopath gives Michael the chance for revenge on a small town, Shiloh, in New England.
It's the second half on the book that nearly took my breath away. It's chilling, and the fear and suspense ratchets higher and higher until the very explosive end. People are going to die. Secrets and lies will be exposed. The ending is something the reader never sees coming.
Many thanks to the author / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of WHIRLWIND. Opinions voiced here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 29, 2019
finished this one the 28th of january early evening 2019 good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner first from norman for me. quick read, fairly intense, snow storm in this one, snow storm here at home. good day to read.
August 23, 2025
I picked up Whirlwind because I needed a Rhode Island book for my 50 States Challenge. Honestly, I thought it might just be a “check the box” kind of read. It turned out to be one of those edge-of-your-seat thrillers that made me so glad I added it to my list.
The setting was perfect. A blizzard traps everyone in place, and most of the story unfolds in a church that feels increasingly claustrophobic as the storm rages outside. That isolation made every twist hit even harder, because escape wasn’t an option.
The character who stood out most to me was Liza, a woman with big dreams of becoming a newscaster but not much success in making it happen. Enter the Reaper, a clever, creepy psychopath who decides to give her the break she’s been waiting for… by forcing her to witness his confession to horrific crimes. He was way too smart for his own good (as most psychopaths tend to be), and the way he manipulated the situation and the people he roped in was chilling.
I had absolutely no clue who the Reaper really was until the big reveal. Completely blindsided. And that’s the best kind of thriller payoff.
The pacing felt like a rollercoaster: a slow, steady climb as the snow starts falling, and then a freefall of twists, turns, and “hold on to your seat” moments once the storm and the murders collide. I actually caught myself talking to the book more than once, saying things like, “No way!” and “Wooooowww…”
If you want a thriller that will keep your adrenaline pumping and your fingers flipping pages faster than you can feel them, Whirlwind is it. It's isolated, relentless, and chilling.
The setting was perfect. A blizzard traps everyone in place, and most of the story unfolds in a church that feels increasingly claustrophobic as the storm rages outside. That isolation made every twist hit even harder, because escape wasn’t an option.
The character who stood out most to me was Liza, a woman with big dreams of becoming a newscaster but not much success in making it happen. Enter the Reaper, a clever, creepy psychopath who decides to give her the break she’s been waiting for… by forcing her to witness his confession to horrific crimes. He was way too smart for his own good (as most psychopaths tend to be), and the way he manipulated the situation and the people he roped in was chilling.
I had absolutely no clue who the Reaper really was until the big reveal. Completely blindsided. And that’s the best kind of thriller payoff.
The pacing felt like a rollercoaster: a slow, steady climb as the snow starts falling, and then a freefall of twists, turns, and “hold on to your seat” moments once the storm and the murders collide. I actually caught myself talking to the book more than once, saying things like, “No way!” and “Wooooowww…”
If you want a thriller that will keep your adrenaline pumping and your fingers flipping pages faster than you can feel them, Whirlwind is it. It's isolated, relentless, and chilling.
October 31, 2019
This was such a weird book. Had a few times I wanted to quit. Then I read reviews where people said it would get better so I kept on reading but in the end I do not agree with them.
Such a nonsense story.
Such a nonsense story.
June 4, 2017
A thrilling story, but the psychopath was a bit too much for me.
August 24, 2017
I hated everything about this book. The characters were not relatable, the mystery wasn't a mystery, the writing was not up to par. I couldn't even finish it. Thank god for libraries.
July 13, 2022
Loved the twists of this thriller
October 17, 2024
A chilling thriller
February 11, 2017
I enjoyed this book which was well written, with realistic characters. Norman has set the scene and described the journey that takes Liza Plain (a journalist) and Michael Rider to Shiloh in Rhode Island where to their surprise they encounter each other on Christmas Eve.
Michael has had many difficulties in his life and secrets and lies have left him bitter and susceptible to the mysterious Whirlwind an organisation that lures him to Shiloh to wreak revenge.
This reminded me of an Agatha Christie – Shiloh is about to be hit by the Storm to End All Storms which leaves the town cut-off from the outside world and captive. The scene is set, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and the churchgoers are held hostage in the Church by a gang of ruthless men (including Michael Rider). Liza is forced to be the witness to events to give her the story of a lifetime. The captive audience are to witness the revelation of past sins and the manipulation of events long hidden.
Excellent! A thoroughly well thought out piece of work with intrigue and surprise right until the end.
Michael has had many difficulties in his life and secrets and lies have left him bitter and susceptible to the mysterious Whirlwind an organisation that lures him to Shiloh to wreak revenge.
This reminded me of an Agatha Christie – Shiloh is about to be hit by the Storm to End All Storms which leaves the town cut-off from the outside world and captive. The scene is set, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and the churchgoers are held hostage in the Church by a gang of ruthless men (including Michael Rider). Liza is forced to be the witness to events to give her the story of a lifetime. The captive audience are to witness the revelation of past sins and the manipulation of events long hidden.
Excellent! A thoroughly well thought out piece of work with intrigue and surprise right until the end.
April 2, 2017
Revenge is best served cold
Whirlwind is a great read from start to finish. The small town of Shiloh holds many secrets and the tragic abduction and murder of a seven year old girl in the 70s has shaped the lives of the inhabitants forever. The Cromwell family especially, after Donald Cromwell is charged with her murder. His subsequent suicide seems to seal his guilt and his family is left to pick up the pieces.
Years later, Liza Plain interviews the grandson of Donald Cromwell on an unrelated subject but this act sets in motion a series of horrifying events that culminate in a hostage situation in the local church in the midst of a huge snow storm.
There is plenty of detail and many characters to keep track of and the timeline of the story skips back and forth but the writer keeps the plot clear and slowly builds up the suspense.
Revenge is always a good motive and in this story the crazed killer believes that divine retribution is the driving force behind all the killings.
A gripping read
Gillian
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Whirlwind is a great read from start to finish. The small town of Shiloh holds many secrets and the tragic abduction and murder of a seven year old girl in the 70s has shaped the lives of the inhabitants forever. The Cromwell family especially, after Donald Cromwell is charged with her murder. His subsequent suicide seems to seal his guilt and his family is left to pick up the pieces.
Years later, Liza Plain interviews the grandson of Donald Cromwell on an unrelated subject but this act sets in motion a series of horrifying events that culminate in a hostage situation in the local church in the midst of a huge snow storm.
There is plenty of detail and many characters to keep track of and the timeline of the story skips back and forth but the writer keeps the plot clear and slowly builds up the suspense.
Revenge is always a good motive and in this story the crazed killer believes that divine retribution is the driving force behind all the killings.
A gripping read
Gillian
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
mystery
June 22, 2017Find it at the West Hempstead Public Library http://encore.alisweb.org/iii/encore/...
Read
July 28, 2017Booklist
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews