A Season of Whispers

by Jackson Kuhl

In the summer of 1844, Tom Lyman flees to Bonaventure, a transcendentalist farming cooperative tucked away in eastern Connecticut, to hide from his past. There Lyman must adjust to a new life among idealists, under the fatherly eye of the group's founder, David Grosvenor. When he isn't ducking work or the questions of the eccentric residents, Lyman occupies himself by courting Grosvenor's daughter Minerva.

But Bonaventure isn't as utopian as it seems. One by one, Lyman's secrets begin to catch up with him, and Bonaventure has a few secrets of its own. Why did the farm have an ominous reputation long before Grosvenor bought it? What caused the previous tenants to vanish? And who is playing the violin in the basement? Time is running out, and Lyman must discover the truth before he's driven mad by the whispering through the walls.

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Audiobook, Mystery

128 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2020

About the author

JACKSON KUHL is the author of the Gothic mysteries The Island of Small Misfortunes and A Season of Whispers , as well as the Revolutionary War biography Samuel Smedley, Connecticut Privateer. He has worked as a journalist, ghostwriter, and freelance writer and editor. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies. Kuhl lives in coastal Connecticut.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Tom Lyman arrives to Bonaventure, a small farming commune, hidden away in Connecticut, he hopes to be able to live out the rest of his life hidden from society, leaving his past behind him.

But things are not quite what they seem at Bonaventure, there's tales of the old family that had own the land before. The family that came over from Dunwich, a family accused of being witchcraft. There are strange sounds. Whispers in Tom's ear, the sound of a violin, voices being heard in the basement

There are other things that go on, sink holes, missing people and animals.

A Season of Whispers is a short Gothic horror novella that tips it's hat to Edgar Allen Poe while giving me H.P Lovecraft vibes. The two combined make for some attention holding reading.

I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by Jackson Kuhl.

[Latasha]

DNF

[Eric Guignard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historic tale of murder, greed, and lurking monsters beneath the ground. With a heart of mystery, a temperament of horror, and a persuasion of literary splendor, Jackson Kuhl’s A Season of Whispers will lead you though slowly darkening twists until you’ve sunk inescapably into the sinister depths of Bonaventure Farm.
5 of 5 stars

[Jan Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you open a book, hope it’s going to be okay and then a few paragraphs in you know it’s going to be awesome? Yeah, this one is just like that. I couldn’t bear to put it down. Pick a cold rainy night with the wind whispering around the chimney and get comfortable. It’s that kind of book—a literary horror harkening back to the Lovecraft stories, where the humans can be as evil and relentless as the monsters. Well plotted, brimming with suspense, the language lifts the story out of the realm of the mundane. I highly recommend this book.

I received this arc from Aurelia Leo. Thank you!

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season of Whispers is a fantastic supernatural, gothic horror novella that encapsulates everything you could want from that genre and more, wrapped up in excellent writing that drew you into the very depths of the narrative.
I was hooked from the first paragraph with this one and read it all in one go on Halloween just to add to the atmosphere, not that it was needed. Kuhl’s descriptions not only build up a very vivid setting and a cast of characters that bring the world to life, but the atmosphere in this book was one of those that seeps in under the door and wraps itself around you before you even realise what was happening. For a short book, A Season of Whispers does an excellent job of building up the mystery and tension, creating a lingering, feeling of impending horror that has you holding your breath and waiting to see what will happen next.
This was a smart book and one that demands your attention, because as everything builds up and the atmosphere sweeps you away, the story is woven across time and characters, and full of twists and turns, and you need to pay attention to what is happening. Which isn’t really a problem as this is the kind of book that you don’t want to look away from. The characters were wonderfully written too, with individual voices, which added to the depth of the world and the tension. My one and only complaint is that I would have loved to have spent more time in the setting that Kuhl has set up.
This was a fantastic read, especially for this time of year with these darker nights and the wind rattling the window frames, and I would highly recommend it, especially to anyone who loves atmospheric books, and gothic horror.

[Crookedhouseofbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really impressed with this novella.

A very gothic tale with a surprise creature feature.

This story had a lot of creepy twists and a dark, eerie setting that I truly appreciated. The characters were interesting and far from innocent and this added to the suspense ten-fold.

I don't want to divulge too much because it's definitely better enjoyed with less information going in. So, all I will say is that this is a story about a man that joins a co-op of farmers on a piece of property with a disturbing history. Nights of terror and confusion unfold.

I received a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review. This was an engrossing gothic tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. My only wish is that one certain element was given a better resolution in the end. Even so, the ending was still very good!

[DebbieDoesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tiffany PSquared · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not the book for me. It overpromised and underdelivered. The expectation was for a sinister haunting, a questionable start-up community, and a spooky reason for some mysterious disappearances.
In the end, what we got was a showcase of greedy men and, unfortunately, an unsatisfactory ending.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson Kuhl's novella, set in a transcendtalist farming community in mid-19th century Connecticut, contains elements of classic gothic horror, Connecticut geography, and the narrative style befitting its setting. A Season of Whispers explores what happens when greed undermines values and people can no longer hide, or run from, who they are.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season of Whispers is a strange, oddly tame yet uniquely horrifying novella with hints of Lovecraft and Poe weaved within the pages. The wording is mellifluous at times, bringing forth vivid imagery of something like M. Night Shyamalan's The Village.
A small farming community with high hopes to create a utopia in the middle of nowhere is rumored to be haunted, but no one really puts much stock in those whisperings. But with a new member named Tom, who is hiding from his past, in their midst, strange things start happening. Maybe, just maybe, those rumors are true...
I really enjoyed this book. I found it fascinating, slightly disturbing, and definitely something different from what I was expecting (although, to be honest, I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting to begin with).
The writing is strong, and the plot is paced nicely, leading the reader along on a bizarre journey. The setting is contained to this one small farming cooperative, and the characters, save for maybe Minerva, are relatively unlikable. Maybe that's just me, though. Most of the main male characters come across as suspicious, secretive, and selfish, and it's really hard to care about any of them.
If you're looking for a horror novella that's a bit out there, but still an intriguing read, give A Season of Whispers a whirl.
4 stars.

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson Kuhl has done an amazing job of developing multi dimensional characters. This allows the reader to connect to them in the beginning and be captivated throughout the story. I love being about to picture everything about my characters and what they are doing.

While you have the main character, Lyman, Kuhl also explores deeper into other characters lives as well giving another layer to the story.

It’s creepy and dark in the best kind of way. It draws a reader in and the mystery is so well done. You will be drawn into the mysteries and trying to keep up with the many plot-twists. The darkness allowed to heighten my experience and added to the quick pace at which I devoured the novel.

[John Opalenik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season of Whispers is an engrossing, atmospheric, and fascinating read. It starts off with enough context of the history of Transcendentalist cooperatives that readers who are unfamiliar can follow the story without hitting the history books first, and those who have read about them before can see that Kuhl has clearly done his homework here.

The characters who are the focus of the story are flawed but still likable and the rest of the members of the co-op are well-developed enough that they felt unique.

I really enjoyed this story and for any history buff, or anyone interested in the history of Transcendentalism, this would be a 5-star read easily.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things that go bump in the night and give you just the right amount of spook. The descriptions and imagery were perfect for picturing everything that happens.
That is what this were for me. It's eerie, dark, and mysterious. Has a great storyline that keeps the reader looking around corners and trying to figure out what comes next.
I loved the overall flow and how everything unfolded, I thought that part was perfectly done.

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my main takeaway from this novel is that you get a lot more than you are expecting.

Dark and Gloomy but Exciting and Fresh. Mysterious and Edgy in the best way.
Jackson Kuhl really does a superb job of weaving together a story that is very versatile. Everything from characterization to the storyline was anything but one-note.

[Samantha Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the dark moments, those appealed to me and I think they were well done. As were the surprises.
I enjoyed the characters and the growth they showed throughout the novel.
Overall pacing was great. I felt like it really kept pace the entire time and I never felt like it dragged.
It’s a great read that kept me as the reader engrossed.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the energy was just not what I was looking for. The story itself was super interesting and it was incredibly well-written. My main issue is this isn't a "smooth brain read." You need to really focus to understand what's going on because of the language used.
My brain has needed easy to read books lately so maybe that's on me.

[Louise Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read and tore through the 120 pages in a single night.