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Whispers Through Time
This historical drama, part true, part fiction, is based on the mysterious lives of the author’s maternal grandparents’, Walter and Winifred, spanning most of the twentieth century.
Encompassing the Boer Wars, the end of the Victorian era and the Titanic tragedy, the characters not only travel onwards through these times but also to the colonial outposts of the British Empire.
As the first book of a trilogy, Whispers Through Time introduces the personalities, dreams and motivations of Winifred and her family. The mysteries that surrounded her life in the past intrigue her real-life grand-daughter, Heady, who tries to unravel them in the present day.
Why did young Winifred leave London alone on a ship to travel to Australia?
Why especially in June 1912, just months after the Titanic tragedy? Where did her brother, Oscar, disappear to without a trace? And what happened to her beautiful younger sister, Francesca, after her tragic love affair?
Time is an ever-present theme that waxes and wanes like a tide throughout lives. There are the what-if moments, the only if moments and the sad reality that past and present generations can never meet, forever separated by time.
Encompassing the Boer Wars, the end of the Victorian era and the Titanic tragedy, the characters not only travel onwards through these times but also to the colonial outposts of the British Empire.
As the first book of a trilogy, Whispers Through Time introduces the personalities, dreams and motivations of Winifred and her family. The mysteries that surrounded her life in the past intrigue her real-life grand-daughter, Heady, who tries to unravel them in the present day.
Why did young Winifred leave London alone on a ship to travel to Australia?
Why especially in June 1912, just months after the Titanic tragedy? Where did her brother, Oscar, disappear to without a trace? And what happened to her beautiful younger sister, Francesca, after her tragic love affair?
Time is an ever-present theme that waxes and wanes like a tide throughout lives. There are the what-if moments, the only if moments and the sad reality that past and present generations can never meet, forever separated by time.
222 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2020
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Joni Scott
5 books6 followersJoni Scott lives on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Besides writing , she has a tutoring business for high school students focusing on Maths and Science.
She is a graduate of Sydney University in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and worked for many years in this field.
Whispers through Time is Joni’s debut novel based on her sister’s family research. It tells the story of two sisters in London in 1912.
The Last Hotel, her second novel is also based on true events and people Joni met in her lockdown experience in Europe 2020. But all names are fictional and so are the romances and outcomes of the characters. However Joni did recover from the crippling disease of CRPS and was able to write again. Colour comes to Tangles and Time, heal my Heart are her third and fourth books.
She is a graduate of Sydney University in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and worked for many years in this field.
Whispers through Time is Joni’s debut novel based on her sister’s family research. It tells the story of two sisters in London in 1912.
The Last Hotel, her second novel is also based on true events and people Joni met in her lockdown experience in Europe 2020. But all names are fictional and so are the romances and outcomes of the characters. However Joni did recover from the crippling disease of CRPS and was able to write again. Colour comes to Tangles and Time, heal my Heart are her third and fourth books.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 16, 2022
Whispers Through Time by Joni Scott is a fascinating dual timeline novel that grabs the reader’s attention from the start.
The novel is a fictional tale woven around the author’s grandmother’s early life. It began as research with Ancestry, just names and dates. The author wanted to fill in the bare bones of a life.
All the action is set between 1905-1912 and 2014-2016. The two time periods alternate as we see the research in relatively present day, and the story of a life in the past.
Britain in 1905 was teetering on the edge of a brave new world. The old Queen was dead and new inventions would soon catapult all into the modern world. Unfortunately, the world would soon tip into the war to end all wars (but didn’t).
The reader travels from London to Australia via ship, just weeks after the ill-fated Titanic. We see the bravery needed to step on board.
Life for women was constricted in Britain – not yet able to vote, Australia seemed years ahead.
Life was hard. Diseases that people recover easily from now, ended in death then. No family was without tragedy, and for some, tragedy kept on knocking.
I loved the references to the literary classics and popular songs of the time. It gave an air of familiarity to me.
I thoroughly enjoyed Whispers Through Time. It was a fascinating glimpse into a bygone age. I can highly recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The novel is a fictional tale woven around the author’s grandmother’s early life. It began as research with Ancestry, just names and dates. The author wanted to fill in the bare bones of a life.
All the action is set between 1905-1912 and 2014-2016. The two time periods alternate as we see the research in relatively present day, and the story of a life in the past.
Britain in 1905 was teetering on the edge of a brave new world. The old Queen was dead and new inventions would soon catapult all into the modern world. Unfortunately, the world would soon tip into the war to end all wars (but didn’t).
The reader travels from London to Australia via ship, just weeks after the ill-fated Titanic. We see the bravery needed to step on board.
Life for women was constricted in Britain – not yet able to vote, Australia seemed years ahead.
Life was hard. Diseases that people recover easily from now, ended in death then. No family was without tragedy, and for some, tragedy kept on knocking.
I loved the references to the literary classics and popular songs of the time. It gave an air of familiarity to me.
I thoroughly enjoyed Whispers Through Time. It was a fascinating glimpse into a bygone age. I can highly recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2023
Mildly interesting how the genealogical research in the 21st century is interwoven with the earlier story of Winifred and her family in 1912. It would have had three stars but the grammar and spelling mistakes were distracting. Also some sentence structures led to incorrect factual information. E.g. King Alfonso did something in 1147 and something else in 1371? I don't think so.
Joni loves a comma and the over-use and incorrect use made me pause often to deconstruct the sentence to make sense of it.
Joni loves a comma and the over-use and incorrect use made me pause often to deconstruct the sentence to make sense of it.
December 17, 2020
I like the way we are informed of how the book came about, not by way of a preamble, but as another story woven in. I really got to know the characters and am now looking forward to the next book so I can find out what happens to them!
January 31, 2021
Enjoyed reading Whispers Through Time very much. Joni Scott has a great style of writing which seems to flow effortlessly.
Found the characters interesting and wanting to see the direction their lives took.
Looking forward to the follow up book.
Found the characters interesting and wanting to see the direction their lives took.
Looking forward to the follow up book.
July 20, 2021
A truly enjoyable read!
The characters are all so believable and the historical setting authentic.
A skillfully wrought story, imaginatively weaving fact with fiction seamlessly.
I am impressed and look forward to reading the sequel.
The characters are all so believable and the historical setting authentic.
A skillfully wrought story, imaginatively weaving fact with fiction seamlessly.
I am impressed and look forward to reading the sequel.
June 26, 2022
I am leaving 5 stars because that is the MOST I can leave! I wanted to leave more! What a gorgeous debut novel. The historical setting was so incredible. It transported me to a different time. She got the setting, the time and the language right. What a masterpiece!
December 19, 2020
A riveting historical drama based on real characters and real mystery!
June 2, 2021
Loved this book. Very well researched and extremely well written. Can't wait for the next book in the trilogy.
November 6, 2025
A sweet romance story of two sisters who emigrate just after the Titanic disaster. Great characters and setting. Nostalgic and moving.
November 9, 2025
A sweet story of two sisters, a sea journey and young love. Well written and set in a historically interesting time
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews