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The Whispering House
Freya Lyell is struggling to move on from her sister Stella’s suicide five years ago. Visiting the bewitching Byrne Hall, only a few miles from the scene of the tragedy, she discovers a portrait of Stella – a portrait she had no idea existed, in a house Stella never set foot in. Or so she thought.
Driven to find out more about her sister’s secrets, Freya is drawn into the world of Byrne Hall and its owners: charismatic artist Cory and his sinister, watchful mother. But as Freya’s relationship with Cory crosses the line into obsession, the darkness behind the locked doors of Byrne Hall threatens to spill out.
Driven to find out more about her sister’s secrets, Freya is drawn into the world of Byrne Hall and its owners: charismatic artist Cory and his sinister, watchful mother. But as Freya’s relationship with Cory crosses the line into obsession, the darkness behind the locked doors of Byrne Hall threatens to spill out.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2020
424 people are currently reading
4677 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Brooks
6 books168 followersElizabeth Brooks grew up in Chester. She read Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge. On graduating in 2001 she moved to the Isle of Man where she lives with her husband and their two children. Her first novel, 'Call of the Curlew' was shortlisted for the Waverton Good Read Award 2018. Her fourth novel, 'The Woman in the Sable Coat,' will be published by Tin House in March 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
March 19, 2021
Uhhh....
I think I'm done with gothic suspense, they are never as eerie or atmospheric as they should be.
Freya is a dumb, clueless turd who I wanted to violently shake.
Cory is a whining, weak, manipulative pos turd who I wanted to stab.
Freya's dad is an annoying, unhelpful turd who I wanted to leave stranded in a parking lot.
I did enjoy a bit of this, briefly. But the ending was like, uhhm, I dunno nothing happened? I was going to give this 2 stars but the ending makes this a complete waste of time. Just, nothing. No pay off.
I think I'm done with gothic suspense, they are never as eerie or atmospheric as they should be.
Freya is a dumb, clueless turd who I wanted to violently shake.
Cory is a whining, weak, manipulative pos turd who I wanted to stab.
Freya's dad is an annoying, unhelpful turd who I wanted to leave stranded in a parking lot.
I did enjoy a bit of this, briefly. But the ending was like, uhhm, I dunno nothing happened? I was going to give this 2 stars but the ending makes this a complete waste of time. Just, nothing. No pay off.
July 14, 2021
Hoopla audio. MMD SRG 2021 minimalist guide! What the what?! Guys. This book sucked. Seriously Anne Bogel, what did you see? I sooooo didn’t see it. This has vibes of Mexican Gothic and Shirley Jackson’s House on Haunted Hill - neither of which I liked, so there’s that. This is two sisters, one disappears, a crazy guy, a crazy mother, a crazy house… bleh.
July 24, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and the author for a chance to read and review this book.
#TheWhisperingHouse #NetGalley
Disturbing and creepy, The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks is a crafty gothic thriller.
When Freya first spies upon Byrne Hall while attending a cousin’s wedding, it captures her imagination like nothing else. The gardens, the sea below the cliffs and all the trees surrounding the house makes it a very enchanted place which she longs to explore although, it is the same cliffs where her sister Stella’s body was found. 5 yrs into Stella’s suicide, Freya and her art critic father are yet to come to terms with the loss and are still grieving, unable to talk openly about the whirlwind that was Stella.
Few drinks and wobbly feet carry her trespassing into the house wherein she sees a mosaic painting of Stella. Despite it not being a good likeness, Freya takes it upon herself to a journey to Byrne Hall, trying to understand her sister’s final moments.
A chance meeting with Cory in the town, and a rude encounter with his mother Diana in Byrne Hall and pathetic weather, gives her a chance to remain inside the house. Inch by inch, things begin to change as Freya believes in her love and the artistic capabilities of Cory and Byrne Hall begins to dominate her every thought.
The Whispering House, I would say has no mystery, coz there is only one direction where the story can lead to and it is in all fairness guessable. But the author succeeds in creating a story that raises the goosebumps with Diana’s sickness and her rudeness, the ghostly house, the eerie and echoing rooms that are all empty, and then a nail-biting end to a fever pitch suspense of how everything gets resolved. This is where Elizabeth Brooks has created a compelling narrative in making us understand a dark tale of obsession and vulnerabilities perfectly building a gothic feel to the whole endeavor.
I really wanted a little more depth to the character of Stella as it felt half formed even though there are parts in her POV. The lack of fireworks in the first part of the story does tend to slow down the pace but it is quite an absorbing read.
Recommended to fans of gothic fiction!
#TheWhisperingHouse #NetGalley
Disturbing and creepy, The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks is a crafty gothic thriller.
When Freya first spies upon Byrne Hall while attending a cousin’s wedding, it captures her imagination like nothing else. The gardens, the sea below the cliffs and all the trees surrounding the house makes it a very enchanted place which she longs to explore although, it is the same cliffs where her sister Stella’s body was found. 5 yrs into Stella’s suicide, Freya and her art critic father are yet to come to terms with the loss and are still grieving, unable to talk openly about the whirlwind that was Stella.
Few drinks and wobbly feet carry her trespassing into the house wherein she sees a mosaic painting of Stella. Despite it not being a good likeness, Freya takes it upon herself to a journey to Byrne Hall, trying to understand her sister’s final moments.
A chance meeting with Cory in the town, and a rude encounter with his mother Diana in Byrne Hall and pathetic weather, gives her a chance to remain inside the house. Inch by inch, things begin to change as Freya believes in her love and the artistic capabilities of Cory and Byrne Hall begins to dominate her every thought.
The Whispering House, I would say has no mystery, coz there is only one direction where the story can lead to and it is in all fairness guessable. But the author succeeds in creating a story that raises the goosebumps with Diana’s sickness and her rudeness, the ghostly house, the eerie and echoing rooms that are all empty, and then a nail-biting end to a fever pitch suspense of how everything gets resolved. This is where Elizabeth Brooks has created a compelling narrative in making us understand a dark tale of obsession and vulnerabilities perfectly building a gothic feel to the whole endeavor.
I really wanted a little more depth to the character of Stella as it felt half formed even though there are parts in her POV. The lack of fireworks in the first part of the story does tend to slow down the pace but it is quite an absorbing read.
Recommended to fans of gothic fiction!
April 1, 2022
1.75 stars
I enjoyed the first novel I read by Brooks, The Call of the Curlew. This one I didn’t enjoy. It is supposed to be gothic and chilling with a build-up of tension. Again I didn’t find it so. The plot is straightforward. Freya is in her early 20s and she goes to a wedding at a country house on the coast, close to where her elder sister Stella committed suicide five years earlier. Having drunk a little too much she sneaks into the house to rest. There she sees a portrait of Stella: as far as Freya is aware Stella had nothing to do with the house. Living in the house are Cory, a rather mediocre artist and his mother. Freya decides to investigate and inevitably ends up in a relationship with Cory. It was not a surprise to discover things were not as they seemed. Cory turns out to be manipulative and controlling and possibly may know more about Stella than he lets on. It’s meant to be a thriller. But it is very predictable and the twist at the end just makes it worse.
There is an element of the horror film where the watcher says “Don’t open the door/cupboard, don’t turn round”. But it isn’t horror, or gothic. It’s rather tedious with the twist at the end implying that it isn’t really the poor abusive bloke’s fault!
I enjoyed the first novel I read by Brooks, The Call of the Curlew. This one I didn’t enjoy. It is supposed to be gothic and chilling with a build-up of tension. Again I didn’t find it so. The plot is straightforward. Freya is in her early 20s and she goes to a wedding at a country house on the coast, close to where her elder sister Stella committed suicide five years earlier. Having drunk a little too much she sneaks into the house to rest. There she sees a portrait of Stella: as far as Freya is aware Stella had nothing to do with the house. Living in the house are Cory, a rather mediocre artist and his mother. Freya decides to investigate and inevitably ends up in a relationship with Cory. It was not a surprise to discover things were not as they seemed. Cory turns out to be manipulative and controlling and possibly may know more about Stella than he lets on. It’s meant to be a thriller. But it is very predictable and the twist at the end just makes it worse.
There is an element of the horror film where the watcher says “Don’t open the door/cupboard, don’t turn round”. But it isn’t horror, or gothic. It’s rather tedious with the twist at the end implying that it isn’t really the poor abusive bloke’s fault!
August 13, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded interesting and based on the little I’d heard about the book, I was anticipating an atmospheric page-turner with serious gothic vibes. Actually, for the first 40-50 pages or so, I felt like this was the case, as the author did a pretty good job of setting the scene and creating intrigue around the house at the center of the story, Bryne Hall. Unfortunately it didn’t last — for me, the story started to unravel early on, when the main character Freya Lyell returns to Bryne Hall again after her cousin’s wedding and nonsensically inserts herself in the lives of Cory and Diana Bryne. Technically, there wasn’t really a plot to speak of, as nothing much happens — but what annoyed me was that the little bit of plot that did happen was far-fetched and unrealistic. This was one of those stories where you pretty much have to suspend disbelief the entire time you’re reading, otherwise it’s hard to get through.
Normally, I’m okay with lack of plot if the character development is good and I’m able to connect with the characters in some way. Sorry to say, this wasn’t the case here — not only was every single character in this story very unlikable, they also felt like stereotypically-drawn caricatures going through the motions. The main protagonist, Freya, especially frustrated me to no end. One of the things I absolutely can’t stand in books are grown up, adult characters who act like petulant children, as well as female characters who are portrayed stereotypically (i.e.: weak, hysterical, naive, irrational, emotional, wushu-washy, etc.) — unfortunately for me, Freya was both of these and worse. I hated how pretty much every single thing Freya did, every decision she made, was done in a way that made no sense whatsoever. From the get go, Freya is portrayed as naive and foolish, which I guess is the author’s way of perhaps justifying why she makes one reckless decision after another throughout the entire story. Having said all that though, my biggest pet peeve is when the female character knows that doing certain things or going down certain paths is self-destructive and/or will for sure result in negative consequences either for herself or for others (oftentimes the character actually tells us so via her wn inner dialogue), yet she still insists on going forward with the decision — then, when others (usually a friend or family member) try to warn her or talk sense into her, she either goes ballistic and pushes the person away or she does the denial thing by playing dumb and pretending nothing is wrong. And that’s just Freya — as if one annoying character wasn’t enough, the author had to include an entire cast of them! Freya’s father Roger was a jerk, her sister Stella was reckless, Cory Bryne was a delusional psychopath and his mother was a sinister witch — the only decent person in the story was Tom, but even he turned out to be annoying with his wishy washy personality.
Overall, I would have to say that this was a disappointing and frustrating read for me. The writing for the most part was decent, though I felt like the “gothic” vibe and the mystery piece totally didn’t work — if this was supposed to be a psychological suspense novel, it completely failed in that aspect, as the main plot points were predictable (I pretty much figured things out already within the first few pages) and the intrigue of the “house” at the center of the story was overshadowed by the loathsomeness of its occupants. In the end, I also felt the story dragged out for way too long, though I think that was because, at that point, I couldn’t bring myself to care anymore. While I’m not one to DNF a book once I’ve started reading, I do believe that, based on sheer annoyance level alone, this one would’ve been an exception — the only reason I didn’t is due to this being a book club read, which made me determined to push through it. With that said, the reviews for this one seem to be all over the place, so I would say read both the positive and negative reviews to get a more balanced perspective before deciding whether to pick this one up.
Normally, I’m okay with lack of plot if the character development is good and I’m able to connect with the characters in some way. Sorry to say, this wasn’t the case here — not only was every single character in this story very unlikable, they also felt like stereotypically-drawn caricatures going through the motions. The main protagonist, Freya, especially frustrated me to no end. One of the things I absolutely can’t stand in books are grown up, adult characters who act like petulant children, as well as female characters who are portrayed stereotypically (i.e.: weak, hysterical, naive, irrational, emotional, wushu-washy, etc.) — unfortunately for me, Freya was both of these and worse. I hated how pretty much every single thing Freya did, every decision she made, was done in a way that made no sense whatsoever. From the get go, Freya is portrayed as naive and foolish, which I guess is the author’s way of perhaps justifying why she makes one reckless decision after another throughout the entire story. Having said all that though, my biggest pet peeve is when the female character knows that doing certain things or going down certain paths is self-destructive and/or will for sure result in negative consequences either for herself or for others (oftentimes the character actually tells us so via her wn inner dialogue), yet she still insists on going forward with the decision — then, when others (usually a friend or family member) try to warn her or talk sense into her, she either goes ballistic and pushes the person away or she does the denial thing by playing dumb and pretending nothing is wrong. And that’s just Freya — as if one annoying character wasn’t enough, the author had to include an entire cast of them! Freya’s father Roger was a jerk, her sister Stella was reckless, Cory Bryne was a delusional psychopath and his mother was a sinister witch — the only decent person in the story was Tom, but even he turned out to be annoying with his wishy washy personality.
Overall, I would have to say that this was a disappointing and frustrating read for me. The writing for the most part was decent, though I felt like the “gothic” vibe and the mystery piece totally didn’t work — if this was supposed to be a psychological suspense novel, it completely failed in that aspect, as the main plot points were predictable (I pretty much figured things out already within the first few pages) and the intrigue of the “house” at the center of the story was overshadowed by the loathsomeness of its occupants. In the end, I also felt the story dragged out for way too long, though I think that was because, at that point, I couldn’t bring myself to care anymore. While I’m not one to DNF a book once I’ve started reading, I do believe that, based on sheer annoyance level alone, this one would’ve been an exception — the only reason I didn’t is due to this being a book club read, which made me determined to push through it. With that said, the reviews for this one seem to be all over the place, so I would say read both the positive and negative reviews to get a more balanced perspective before deciding whether to pick this one up.
March 20, 2023
In a house as old as Byrne Hall, there are certain to be secrets hidden behind the locked doors. Freya Lyell’s life had felt as if it had been on hold since her sister, Stella, committed suicide five years ago by throwing herself off the cliffs near Byrne Hall, a stately manor on the English coast. When Freya has way too much to drink at her cousin’s wedding held on the estate’s grounds, she finds a portrait that eerily resembles her dead sister. unable to get this portrait out of her mind, she leaves her life in London and heads back to Byrne Hall to try to find the answers. What she’s finds instead is not answers but an almost instantaneous happiness that she feels there is something wrong with considering the issues that brought her back here...her sister’s suicide, her mother’s death when she was 5, and her troubled childhood. Along with this strange feeling of happiness is her whirlwind romance with would-be portrait artist Cory Byrne, who lives in Byrne Hall. The Hall is his family estate that he shares with his ailing mother. In spite of this overwhelming happiness Freya feels the weight of a darkness...almost a morbid sense lingering uncomfortably close: “In every version I kiss him right back, and it’s almost like the last scene in the movie, except that there’s an old woman curled up on the bed, and her fingers are twitching restlessly on top of the sheets.” When the author suddenly shifts the narrative back in time to when Stella was alive, the darkness bubbling beneath creaky floorboards begins to boil over. Elizabeth Brooks’ elegant prose and artfully written protagonist keep this somewhat predictable thriller from feeling formulaic. I found this to be a good chilling, ghostly story and look forward to more books by this author.
October 22, 2020
Seriously creepy thriller, with a wonderful underlying theme of love and loss. You can take the story in so many ways - a general thriller, a love story, a story of abuse, a tragedy, or all of these options!
I sacrificed sleep to keep reading this which doesn't happen much; at times I completely forgot I was turning pages (always the sign of a great read.) Very enjoyable, easy to read and with a horrible character that I couldn't help hating. Can't wait to read the author's other book!
I sacrificed sleep to keep reading this which doesn't happen much; at times I completely forgot I was turning pages (always the sign of a great read.) Very enjoyable, easy to read and with a horrible character that I couldn't help hating. Can't wait to read the author's other book!
December 17, 2020
This tale has all the hallmarks of a chilling gothic: a vulnerable woman, a brooding love interest, a haunting setting, and an edge of mystery. I was intrigued from the beginning. While I did find the story gorgeously written, the plot itself was quite predictable and the character of Freya is painfully and nonsensically naive. That said, there was a dark, poetic eeriness to the telling that I found compelling.
August 6, 2020
There’s no doubt that in Byrne Hall the author has created another mysterious location for her novel. Viewed for the first time from its gardens, as Freya does, or glimpsed from afar, it seems picture perfect. “There it was; there was Byrne Hall. Impossible to mistake the graceful white house with its pillared porch, and the tiered garden tumbling down through the trees like a wide, green river.” However, delve deeper and its elegant frontage is revealed as merely a facade; the rest of the house is in various stages of disuse and decay, “as godforsaken as Sleeping Beauty’s castle”. This is something of a metaphor for the characters who inhabit it – Diana Byrne and her son, Cory.
Once doyenne of the art world, Diana is now ailing and physically frail, reliant on Cory, the son she dotes on, to look after her. However, through the occasional insights into her thoughts, the reader senses she possesses an inner steel and a strong will. In a curious and rather unsettling way, the house seems to inhabit her as much as she inhabits it. “She – Diana – had become the whispering voice of the house. No, more than that, she had become it’s mind and soul.”
Even Freya begins to think of Byrne Hall as in some sense having a life of its own. “We didn’t get silences like this back home. It was a silence with character and colour; it was the wakeful mind of Byrne Hall, brimful of history and intent.” This air of unreality, along with her desire to find out more about the circumstances of her sister’s death, goes some way to explaining why Freya finds herself drawn into a relationship with Cory. I confess I struggled to see the attraction Cory held for Freya. Convinced he possesses as yet unrecognised artistic talent, his behaviour is increasingly manipulative and controlling. However, having always felt as if she was in her sister’s shadow, Freya finds Cory’s adoration difficult to resist. In addition, Byrne Hall seems to offer her the prospect of a new and more fulfilling life.
As Freya uncovers more connections between Byrne Hall and her sister’s death, picking up fragments here and there, she observes “It was like holding a couple of jigsaw pieces in my palm, knowing there was a whole picture to be made, if only I could find the rest.” You may think you know exactly where the story is going but, like me, you could be wrong. Never underestimate the lengths to which people will go to preserve the things they treasure.
With its atmospheric setting and gothic elements (yes, there is even an attic), The Whispering House combines suspenseful mystery with an absorbing story of delusion and obsession.
Once doyenne of the art world, Diana is now ailing and physically frail, reliant on Cory, the son she dotes on, to look after her. However, through the occasional insights into her thoughts, the reader senses she possesses an inner steel and a strong will. In a curious and rather unsettling way, the house seems to inhabit her as much as she inhabits it. “She – Diana – had become the whispering voice of the house. No, more than that, she had become it’s mind and soul.”
Even Freya begins to think of Byrne Hall as in some sense having a life of its own. “We didn’t get silences like this back home. It was a silence with character and colour; it was the wakeful mind of Byrne Hall, brimful of history and intent.” This air of unreality, along with her desire to find out more about the circumstances of her sister’s death, goes some way to explaining why Freya finds herself drawn into a relationship with Cory. I confess I struggled to see the attraction Cory held for Freya. Convinced he possesses as yet unrecognised artistic talent, his behaviour is increasingly manipulative and controlling. However, having always felt as if she was in her sister’s shadow, Freya finds Cory’s adoration difficult to resist. In addition, Byrne Hall seems to offer her the prospect of a new and more fulfilling life.
As Freya uncovers more connections between Byrne Hall and her sister’s death, picking up fragments here and there, she observes “It was like holding a couple of jigsaw pieces in my palm, knowing there was a whole picture to be made, if only I could find the rest.” You may think you know exactly where the story is going but, like me, you could be wrong. Never underestimate the lengths to which people will go to preserve the things they treasure.
With its atmospheric setting and gothic elements (yes, there is even an attic), The Whispering House combines suspenseful mystery with an absorbing story of delusion and obsession.
June 30, 2021
HEADLINE: Wait... what? Well then.
Obsessive love, family secrets, mysterious deaths and a creepy old mansion makeup this gothic tale. I appreciated the atmospheric writing but desperately wanted more suspense and tension. I do not need to identify with or like a character- but oh.my.goodness. I found the main characters' naivety and lack of even a smidgen of common sense to be completely frustrating. And then the ending? What?
All that said, I clearly have thoughts. I think this is the type of book that begs to be discussed in a group. I am looking forward to unpacking this with fellow Modern Mrs. Darcy bookclubbers in August.
Obsessive love, family secrets, mysterious deaths and a creepy old mansion makeup this gothic tale. I appreciated the atmospheric writing but desperately wanted more suspense and tension. I do not need to identify with or like a character- but oh.my.goodness. I found the main characters' naivety and lack of even a smidgen of common sense to be completely frustrating. And then the ending? What?
All that said, I clearly have thoughts. I think this is the type of book that begs to be discussed in a group. I am looking forward to unpacking this with fellow Modern Mrs. Darcy bookclubbers in August.
April 15, 2020
Stella Lyell committed suicide 5 years ago, her sister Freya and her father still struggle coming to terms with her decision. Whilst at a family wedding at Byrne Hall, they find themselves in the area that the tragedy occurred. Freya finds herself drawn to the house and on entering finds a portrait of her sister......
I really had high hopes for this, the opening is really well written, if you love description this will tick all the boxes. However, 2 thirds of the writing becomes a bit drawn, slow and confusing at times. The main reason it drove me crazy was the character of Freya, she drove me crazy, everything she did was naive and made no sense whatsoever, she was annoying and how she behaved just was nonsensical. This is supposed to have a sense of gothic mystery, but you could see where we were going. I can hear the reviewers trying to compare this to du Maurier, but no no no, it's an insult to du Maurier and I was going to say think Victoria Holt but again it's an insult to Victoria Holt.
I really had high hopes for this, the opening is really well written, if you love description this will tick all the boxes. However, 2 thirds of the writing becomes a bit drawn, slow and confusing at times. The main reason it drove me crazy was the character of Freya, she drove me crazy, everything she did was naive and made no sense whatsoever, she was annoying and how she behaved just was nonsensical. This is supposed to have a sense of gothic mystery, but you could see where we were going. I can hear the reviewers trying to compare this to du Maurier, but no no no, it's an insult to du Maurier and I was going to say think Victoria Holt but again it's an insult to Victoria Holt.
April 10, 2021
I wanted to throw this book across the room when I was done (and honestly, about halfway through it). I preordered it after hearing a recommendation on a podcast, and it ended up being such a huge disappointment. The premise and start of the book are good, and I love gothic stories. The author is English, and the story is set there. Bonus. The premise: Freya's sister, Stella, killed herself five years ago. She was found at the bottom of the cliffs near the old manor Byrne Hall. Now, Freya and her father are attending a second cousin's wedding in the gardens of Byrne Hall. (First, seriously, what horrible person would host their wedding the same place their second cousin killed herself and then expect her immediate family to attend?!) Freya gets drunk, wanders off and enters Byrne Hall, which is 100% supposed to be off limits. She spots a painting almost immediately that is clearly her sister. But later, it's gone and because she was drunk she doesn't entirely trust herself that she saw it. But she decides a week or so later to return to find out. This is where it gets ridiculous. She immediately meets the young man (about her sister's age), Cory, who lives in the house with his older, ailing mother. For some reason I cannot fathom, Freya essentially moves in and begins to fall for him. This makes no sense! I get wanting answers, but the writing does him no justice. There's no charm oozing off the page; there's no charisma. He's just some weird young guy living in a creepy house. Honestly, from then on, Freya is so completely naive and ridiculous in what she says and how she behaves that I kept waiting for a paranormal storyline that would explain that either the man or the house had some sort of supernatural power over her and she couldn't leave the house. I read on to see what might happen. Also, we are supposed to learn a bit about Stella in a few look backs, but her character is so poorly defined that we don't know her at all or worry about her or wonder what happened. On top of all that, without spoilers, the near-end of the book took an unexpected—but completely unbelievable!—turn. Ridiculous.
May 10, 2021
Ever read one of those books where things are smooth sailing, you make a connection with most of the characters and think you grasp the story?
That's what happens to me with this book but all of the sudden pretty far in like maybe 85 % in things start to get a creepy tone.
Some books you read and a character is in rough shape mentally but then gets straightened out and makes a 360 getting their life on track. Well in this case the character in question is able to hide their true self, their mental illness,their creepiness.
When it comes out though, wow! Add to this a very atmospheric Gothic mansion that has secrets hidden that echo down it's dark corridors .
A dark,Gothic mystery that will keep you riveted and reading late into the night.
Pub Date 16 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
That's what happens to me with this book but all of the sudden pretty far in like maybe 85 % in things start to get a creepy tone.
Some books you read and a character is in rough shape mentally but then gets straightened out and makes a 360 getting their life on track. Well in this case the character in question is able to hide their true self, their mental illness,their creepiness.
When it comes out though, wow! Add to this a very atmospheric Gothic mansion that has secrets hidden that echo down it's dark corridors .
A dark,Gothic mystery that will keep you riveted and reading late into the night.
Pub Date 16 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
January 13, 2021
Probably 3.5 stars--somewhere between liked and really liked.
A creepy gothic! My favorite!
The narrator of this tale, Freya, is fragile and dreamy. She's also suffering from PTSD (though I don't think she knows it.) She's often passive, usually lost in her own head, and frankly, a bit weird. (For example, in chapter one, she walks into a house that isn't hers, wanders around a bit, then LIES DOWN ON THE FLOOR and GOES TO SLEEP!) This sort of bizarre behavior might be out of place in any other genre, but gothic heroines get a pass.
There is a real darkness here--not from the Whispering House (though it does stand as a brooding, menacing figure in this book), but from the people Freya meets. I feared for her quite a bit.
No spoilers, but I think a few of the plot elements were a bit too contrived. Other than that, I really enjoyed this sinister gothic tale.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
A creepy gothic! My favorite!
The narrator of this tale, Freya, is fragile and dreamy. She's also suffering from PTSD (though I don't think she knows it.) She's often passive, usually lost in her own head, and frankly, a bit weird. (For example, in chapter one, she walks into a house that isn't hers, wanders around a bit, then LIES DOWN ON THE FLOOR and GOES TO SLEEP!) This sort of bizarre behavior might be out of place in any other genre, but gothic heroines get a pass.
There is a real darkness here--not from the Whispering House (though it does stand as a brooding, menacing figure in this book), but from the people Freya meets. I feared for her quite a bit.
No spoilers, but I think a few of the plot elements were a bit too contrived. Other than that, I really enjoyed this sinister gothic tale.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
May 22, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh unholy hell...The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks lived up to all my inflated expectations. I started this book today and finished at 1 am because I was not going to stop till I read “the end.” In this haunted house we see, the walking dead, crazy people, wedding receptions at a home without love, and a full-on gothic murder mystery. I loved it and it reminded me of screaming at the movie screen during a horror film to tell the victim to RUN. Does anyone ever really listen? Well, I think you should run to the bookstore and pick up this book but be prepared to buckle in as you read this delicious story. Also, do not walk near scary cliffs. Duh. @doubledaybooks #terror #murder #crazy #thehousewhispers #gothic #horror #spooky #thewhisperinghouse #buysomelightbulbs #elizabethbrooks @e.f.brooks
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💉 #reading #books #bookstagram #book #read #bookworm #booklover #bookish #bibliophile #reader #SRG #booksofinstagram #booklovers #bookish #lindaleereads2021 #mmdbookclub #idratherbereading #readinglife #mmd #mmdsummerreading
August 24, 2020
I know the word ‘atmospheric‘ is bandied about often in book reviews. This time however the word could not be more appropriate. Picture a once grand ancestral home on a cliff overlooking the sea. Dilapidated and inhabited by only a terminally ill woman and her son – a son who is eccentric, peculiar, and controlling.
The narrative was told for the most part from Freya’s point of view, with occasional flashbacks to Stella’s viewpoint. Stella did not come across as a very likable person, though she was gregarious and lively, she could also be cruel.
It was an unsettling experience to read of Freya’s life at Byrne Hall. Although a modern day story, it had many gothic elements which put me in mind of the works of the Brontë sisters. The novel was disturbing and compelling in equal measure and is sure to be appreciated by many readers.
For my complete review of "The Whispering House" please visit: https://fictionophile.com/2020/08/22/...
The narrative was told for the most part from Freya’s point of view, with occasional flashbacks to Stella’s viewpoint. Stella did not come across as a very likable person, though she was gregarious and lively, she could also be cruel.
It was an unsettling experience to read of Freya’s life at Byrne Hall. Although a modern day story, it had many gothic elements which put me in mind of the works of the Brontë sisters. The novel was disturbing and compelling in equal measure and is sure to be appreciated by many readers.
For my complete review of "The Whispering House" please visit: https://fictionophile.com/2020/08/22/...
November 6, 2021
Boring and flat with unlikable characters. I’m not really sure why I finished it.
November 9, 2021
Everything I could want in an eerie, atmospheric, gothic novel! I absolutely loved it! I will be picking up more Elizabeth Brooks books.
August 23, 2021
This was one sucktacular gothic. It starts off with promise (hence the two stars), but then it just meandered off into a pointless ending.
At the beginning of the novel, we have:
- a heroine with a tragic past (sister's mysterious death)
- a foreboding and mysterious house in an isolated location(with a bonus mystery portrait of the deceased sister!)
- a brooding artist love interest (who sweeps Freya off her feet almost immediately)
- a secondary character with secrets (Diana, the artist's ill mother who seems to know something she isn't telling)
As Freya finds herself swept into Byrne Hall and all of its mysteries, I found myself wondering how this house and these people would be tied to the mystery of her sister's death. However, the promise of the initial chapters never gets realized.
For all that parts of this story are told from Freya's point of view, she's mostly a bland nothing of a character. Things just keep happening to her, and we see little agency on her part, little introspection and indeed little insight into why she just keeps right on accepting the increasingly bizarre circumstances in which she is living. While the other characters in this book actually do things from time to time, they also feel somewhat flat. As a result, what starts off as brooding and interesting just turns dull and seemingly pointless.
I had read reviews that described this book as a brilliant character study, but frankly, there weren't many layers to these characters for one to observe. In addition, most of the plot twists are signaled in such obvious fashion that the reader figures out what will happen long before it actually does.
I read this book all the way to the end, hoping that it would get better. Spoiler: It doesn't.
CW: Discussion of self-harm and suicide, domestic abuse
At the beginning of the novel, we have:
- a heroine with a tragic past (sister's mysterious death)
- a foreboding and mysterious house in an isolated location(with a bonus mystery portrait of the deceased sister!)
- a brooding artist love interest (who sweeps Freya off her feet almost immediately)
- a secondary character with secrets (Diana, the artist's ill mother who seems to know something she isn't telling)
As Freya finds herself swept into Byrne Hall and all of its mysteries, I found myself wondering how this house and these people would be tied to the mystery of her sister's death. However, the promise of the initial chapters never gets realized.
For all that parts of this story are told from Freya's point of view, she's mostly a bland nothing of a character. Things just keep happening to her, and we see little agency on her part, little introspection and indeed little insight into why she just keeps right on accepting the increasingly bizarre circumstances in which she is living. While the other characters in this book actually do things from time to time, they also feel somewhat flat. As a result, what starts off as brooding and interesting just turns dull and seemingly pointless.
I had read reviews that described this book as a brilliant character study, but frankly, there weren't many layers to these characters for one to observe. In addition, most of the plot twists are signaled in such obvious fashion that the reader figures out what will happen long before it actually does.
I read this book all the way to the end, hoping that it would get better. Spoiler: It doesn't.
CW: Discussion of self-harm and suicide, domestic abuse
August 20, 2021
After seeing so many negative reviews for this book, I was a bit apprehensive before starting it. After finishing, I think it really comes down to expectations. What do people expect when they hear "gothic" as a descriptor? For me, as someone who hates horror but enjoys a good atmospheric novel, this really fit the bill. I enjoyed reading it and liked the idea of the book, but there were a few things that didn't quite work for me.
First, I wanted to know more about Stella's story beyond the short flashbacks. I think there was more to be explored there about her life, her death, and her relationships. She was used as a plot point without much depth.
Second, I wanted to care more about Freya. I think more about her career and her life before Byrne Hall would have made the stakes higher for me. Even her relationship with Stella was only barely touched upon. The flashback scenes are a peek into the past without much substance, and I kept waiting for something more to emerge.
Third, I wanted more history about Byrne Hall and the Byrne family. We're given snippets that lead us to believe there's something sinister about the place and always has been, but the story doesn't live up to that. It seems like the current generation of Byrnes are obviously off, but why has it always felt dark and sinister? What's the point? Has Cory always been this way? Has Diana? I just have a lot of questions about backstory for the family and the house.
Basically, I wanted more from the characters and more depth to the story. I liked the writing, I liked the idea, I liked the feel of the book. It was just lacking in something important. I'd read something from this author again, though.
First, I wanted to know more about Stella's story beyond the short flashbacks. I think there was more to be explored there about her life, her death, and her relationships. She was used as a plot point without much depth.
Second, I wanted to care more about Freya. I think more about her career and her life before Byrne Hall would have made the stakes higher for me. Even her relationship with Stella was only barely touched upon. The flashback scenes are a peek into the past without much substance, and I kept waiting for something more to emerge.
Third, I wanted more history about Byrne Hall and the Byrne family. We're given snippets that lead us to believe there's something sinister about the place and always has been, but the story doesn't live up to that. It seems like the current generation of Byrnes are obviously off, but why has it always felt dark and sinister? What's the point? Has Cory always been this way? Has Diana? I just have a lot of questions about backstory for the family and the house.
Basically, I wanted more from the characters and more depth to the story. I liked the writing, I liked the idea, I liked the feel of the book. It was just lacking in something important. I'd read something from this author again, though.
April 26, 2021
This was so boring and predictable and unoriginal I didn’t even finish it. Shy woman goes to investigate her sister’s suicide, falls in love with a charismatic guy in a creepy house with his sickly mother, and shocker, turns out he’s a sociopath who probably had something to do with her death. The beginning alluded to some interesting aspect of magical realism or maybe just creative metaphor with the house “talking,” and then that was just completely dropped. Maybe it got picked up at the end, but I’ll never know, because I’m moving on to another book.
August 16, 2020
Oh dear. What a confused mess this was. A cross between mills and boon and chick-lit both of which I totally hate. Then to really blow your mind it decided to try being a ghost story or at least thought it would give it a go. Sadly it totally missed.Freya's sister took her own life 5yrs ago. Now Freya has discovered a link between her sister and Byrne house.Dreadful read.
July 27, 2021
This story is a modern-day gothic mystery set in an old, spooky house. This book is very broody and atmospheric, and Brooks drops a lot of Northanger Abbey references for any Jane Austen fans. If you ever need a reminder not to lose yourself in a relationship, then look no further than this cautionary tale!
Anyone who enjoyed reading Rebecca or watching You would probably enjoy this book.
Anyone who enjoyed reading Rebecca or watching You would probably enjoy this book.
June 25, 2021
Everyone was so dumb, and whiny.
August 19, 2021
3.5 - Another solid read from this author - I previously enjoyed The Orphan of Salt Winds, and I liked this one too! I'm always here for anything remotely gothic in nature - give me all your creaky old houses, your rambling gardens, your Mrs. Danvers-esque , haunted and reclusive matriarchs...I'll take them all. (This book had all those particular ingredients, by the way.) It was a fun, easy and engaging read to pass the time.
November 5, 2020
Some dwellings talk to you, call your name (or possibly call you names), some places whisper. The latter usually makes you think of gothic fiction and I suppose this is a sort of modern take on it, a neogothic tale of a young woman who comes to stay in a place she doesn’t belong and gets trapped there.
But wait, let’s rewind and start at the beginning…at the beginning there were too sisters, an impulsive impetuous mercurial Stella and a diligent pragmatic slightly younger Freya. And then Stella disappeared, one of her many disappearances, but this one actually ended with her tragic death, a body discovered by the sea, apparent suicide. Freya and her dad go on with their muddling sheltered existence until one day they attend a wedding at a posh but dilapidated estate of Byrne family, which is right near where Stella’s body was found. What’s more, once there, Freya stumbles upon a portrait that looks suspiciously like her sister.
Aha, interesting you say, while steepling your fingers, interesting. But soon again, all suspicions are cast aside, once Freya encounters the dreamy Cory, Cory Byrne to be precise, the inheritor of the estate (such as it is, with most possessions sold and now getting buy mainly on weddings and events income), who lives there with his overprotective and now dying mother. Cory is an artist who becomes obsessed with Freya, she is his perfect muse, and so after a whirlwind romance, she stays there with him, leaving her job and her life behind, and now their days are dedicated to her trying to write and him trying to draw her, over and over again.
It sounds impossibly romantic and soon enough becomes impossible to endure, Cory’s claustrophobic affections and Byrne family secrets get to be too much and here is where the story diverges from a proper gothic to the extent that the female protagonist actually asserts her own agency, refusing to be a mere victim of her circumstances. Yey, go modern times, very progressive and all that. So it becomes a battle of wills, in a way, finally getting dramatic and thrilling after a long while of…well, dreamy stupidity attributable to a typical 23 year old, or at least it’s a convenient excuse for some of Freya’s behavior.
The love story is kind of tedious, it seems mainly driven by Cory’s artistic ambitions, which are kind of just sad, but then again frustrated artists can be dangerous. Remember this one guy named Adolf who got rejected from a Vienna art academy? Well, this isn’t nearly as dramatic or world changing, but it’s never a good thing when one’s ambitious outpace their talent.
So there you have it, a neogothic romance that twists in the end with some mystery elements. To be fair, the latter are very easy to figure out, the list of suspects is at any time just two and it’s made reasonably obvious which one of the two it might be. So you’re not in for huge surprises and you only really get to (somewhat) whiteknuckle it at the end, but nevertheless it was a pretty entertaining ride. The writing was very engaging and did a good job of drawing you in when the characters didn’t and sure they might not have been the most engaging of likeable of characters, but they don’t have to be with this sort of a story, they just have to be very mysterious and British (withholding, proper, reserved, etc.) and somewhat sinister with potential for some evil doing.
The book reads quickly and entertains plenty. Pretty good for a debut, really. Not a typical suspense thriller with a female protagonist that’s so popular these days, more along the lines of a drama with a crime or few thrown in. Fans of dark psychological fiction might enjoy this one. Thanks Netgalley.
But wait, let’s rewind and start at the beginning…at the beginning there were too sisters, an impulsive impetuous mercurial Stella and a diligent pragmatic slightly younger Freya. And then Stella disappeared, one of her many disappearances, but this one actually ended with her tragic death, a body discovered by the sea, apparent suicide. Freya and her dad go on with their muddling sheltered existence until one day they attend a wedding at a posh but dilapidated estate of Byrne family, which is right near where Stella’s body was found. What’s more, once there, Freya stumbles upon a portrait that looks suspiciously like her sister.
Aha, interesting you say, while steepling your fingers, interesting. But soon again, all suspicions are cast aside, once Freya encounters the dreamy Cory, Cory Byrne to be precise, the inheritor of the estate (such as it is, with most possessions sold and now getting buy mainly on weddings and events income), who lives there with his overprotective and now dying mother. Cory is an artist who becomes obsessed with Freya, she is his perfect muse, and so after a whirlwind romance, she stays there with him, leaving her job and her life behind, and now their days are dedicated to her trying to write and him trying to draw her, over and over again.
It sounds impossibly romantic and soon enough becomes impossible to endure, Cory’s claustrophobic affections and Byrne family secrets get to be too much and here is where the story diverges from a proper gothic to the extent that the female protagonist actually asserts her own agency, refusing to be a mere victim of her circumstances. Yey, go modern times, very progressive and all that. So it becomes a battle of wills, in a way, finally getting dramatic and thrilling after a long while of…well, dreamy stupidity attributable to a typical 23 year old, or at least it’s a convenient excuse for some of Freya’s behavior.
The love story is kind of tedious, it seems mainly driven by Cory’s artistic ambitions, which are kind of just sad, but then again frustrated artists can be dangerous. Remember this one guy named Adolf who got rejected from a Vienna art academy? Well, this isn’t nearly as dramatic or world changing, but it’s never a good thing when one’s ambitious outpace their talent.
So there you have it, a neogothic romance that twists in the end with some mystery elements. To be fair, the latter are very easy to figure out, the list of suspects is at any time just two and it’s made reasonably obvious which one of the two it might be. So you’re not in for huge surprises and you only really get to (somewhat) whiteknuckle it at the end, but nevertheless it was a pretty entertaining ride. The writing was very engaging and did a good job of drawing you in when the characters didn’t and sure they might not have been the most engaging of likeable of characters, but they don’t have to be with this sort of a story, they just have to be very mysterious and British (withholding, proper, reserved, etc.) and somewhat sinister with potential for some evil doing.
The book reads quickly and entertains plenty. Pretty good for a debut, really. Not a typical suspense thriller with a female protagonist that’s so popular these days, more along the lines of a drama with a crime or few thrown in. Fans of dark psychological fiction might enjoy this one. Thanks Netgalley.
April 2, 2021
I had very high hopes for this one, but I found myself being more than a little disappointed. I like a good gothic novel but this story was full of too little story and too much description. I also struggled with the fact that none of the characters were like able (except perhaps Maggie). The “twists” weren’t surprising at all and I really had hoped for more mystery or intrigue. It was a very descriptive book and the atmosphere of the decrepit hall was clear in my mind and I loved the descriptions of the beach and the town of Bly. This book wasn’t bad I just couldn’t stop myself from thinking it could have been better than “not bad”. Freya wanders away from a wedding and goes into forbidden territory. Fueled by too much alcohol she thinks she sees a painting of her sister who had committed suicide nearby years before but falls asleep and wakes to find it gone. The whole thing intrigues her and she goes back to talk to the family in the home to try to learn about her sister Stella. Instead Freya meets a man and thinks she’s discovered her own dream of being an artist and leaves her old life completely behind to move into Byrne Hall. Freya continues to make poor choices and I felt a little like I do watching slasher films when the characters are walking into their doom as you cry out to tv in vain.
Read
April 17, 2021DNF.
June 13, 2021
Nope, The Whispering House didn't speak to me. Disappointing drivel.
January 19, 2022
I’m not usually drawn to gothic murder mysteries, but this one was so often recommended that I gave it a shot and was not disappointed. A modern day tale, set in a deteriorating English estate hall within earshot of the sea, I found myself reading “just one more chapter” every time I sat down with it. Creepy without being scary.
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