What do you think?
Rate this book
Evil Whispers
Robert and Janet Patterson and their young daughter, Krissy, went looking for the perfect getaway vacation spot. They found it in a backwoods Florida town. Far away from civilization. Quiet and peaceful. And terribly isolated.
Robert and Janet should have listened to the local legends. They should have heeded the warnings about the black water lagoons. And they should have listened to their daughter when she told them about the whispers in the woods. Because now, it's too late. Krissy's disappeared, and whatever took their little girl is coming back for more....
Robert and Janet should have listened to the local legends. They should have heeded the warnings about the black water lagoons. And they should have listened to their daughter when she told them about the whispers in the woods. Because now, it's too late. Krissy's disappeared, and whatever took their little girl is coming back for more....
340 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2001
31 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 18, 2023
Will Mansa du Paul, an evil voodoo sorcerer, be able to come back after being dead for more than 100 years? The Patterson family (Robert, Janet and 10 year old Krissy) are spending their holiday at Blackwater Camp in rural Florida. Things get creepy when Krissy speaks about an imaginary friend named Mansa and later on vanishes. Police, parents and helpers are trying to find the girl. Where has she gone? Who abducted her? What is she collecting in the lagoon? What is the role of Jimmy Cypress, a Seminole Indian, living in an old shack? Owl Goingback comes up with a classic horror novel if there ever is one. Non stop action from start to finish and a real evil in form of a dead voodoo sorcerer. Absolutely enjoyed this creeper and can highly recommend it. Had a great ending too. A real highlight!
January 3, 2020
1831:
A group of Seminole warriors raid a village of runaway slaves to put an end to an insane bokor who has been sacrificing their children for his twisted voodoo rituals.....scattering his remains in the dark waters of the Florida swamps.
His evil should have ended there.
But, over a century later, a family of tourists will arrive at the Blackwater Fishing Camp on vacation, and inadvertently unleash the spirit of Mansa Du Paul....and transform their little girl into the vessel that will gather his bones together so that he may walk among the living again.
Only one lone Seminole, Jimmy Cypress, a former warrior who turned to the path of the medicine man in order to watch over the final resting place of Mansa Du Paul and contain his evil, knows what has broken loose in Blackwater. But will the ways of his people be enough to stop the growing powers of a voodoo priest whose powers have been growing in the dark waters of the swamp....and save the life of a little girl whose blood may be the key to his resurrection?
Goingback writes a fast paced horror novel that delivers the chills, and a native's view of all the different versions of Florida that exist....from the Kingdom of the Rat that is Disney's legacy ( I'm still laughing at that phrase), to the darker side of the state and the problems brought by the locusts known as tourists......and then raising the bar with a festering supernatural evil that lurks in places where one least expects it.
Highly recommended.
A group of Seminole warriors raid a village of runaway slaves to put an end to an insane bokor who has been sacrificing their children for his twisted voodoo rituals.....scattering his remains in the dark waters of the Florida swamps.
His evil should have ended there.
But, over a century later, a family of tourists will arrive at the Blackwater Fishing Camp on vacation, and inadvertently unleash the spirit of Mansa Du Paul....and transform their little girl into the vessel that will gather his bones together so that he may walk among the living again.
Only one lone Seminole, Jimmy Cypress, a former warrior who turned to the path of the medicine man in order to watch over the final resting place of Mansa Du Paul and contain his evil, knows what has broken loose in Blackwater. But will the ways of his people be enough to stop the growing powers of a voodoo priest whose powers have been growing in the dark waters of the swamp....and save the life of a little girl whose blood may be the key to his resurrection?
Goingback writes a fast paced horror novel that delivers the chills, and a native's view of all the different versions of Florida that exist....from the Kingdom of the Rat that is Disney's legacy ( I'm still laughing at that phrase), to the darker side of the state and the problems brought by the locusts known as tourists......and then raising the bar with a festering supernatural evil that lurks in places where one least expects it.
Highly recommended.
July 28, 2023
The Patterson family takes a vacation from their busy lives in St. Louis and travel to a rural Florida camp where they plan to spend the week fishing and canoeing along the Wekiva river. Their plans for rest and relaxation are derailed when 10 year-old Krissy meets an invisible "special friend" in the lagoon near their cabin, and the Pattersons quickly realize that alligators and palmetto bugs are the least of their worries as an angry, evil spirit is raised from the depths of the Blackwater Lagoon.
Owl Goingback has an easy and well-constructed style of writing, but what really sets Evil Whispers apart from your typical family in peril fare is the particularly vile nature of the evil they face here. The spirit of the dead voodoo sorcerer Mansa Du Paul is calculating and wholly evil. There was a point in the story where the specific nature of the threats the spirit poses against young Krissy are detailed, and I knew then that I couldn't make any assumptions about where the story was headed.
While the parents, Janet and Robert Patterson, are rather bland characters, I really warmed to some of the side characters, like the couple who run the camp. If you're sensitive to animal deaths, be forewarned that you'll find an unpleasant one in these pages. Personally, I was able to skim over this bit. And the creepy kid action in the final third of the book made it worth it.
I thought the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly, but really enjoyed this read overall.
Owl Goingback has an easy and well-constructed style of writing, but what really sets Evil Whispers apart from your typical family in peril fare is the particularly vile nature of the evil they face here. The spirit of the dead voodoo sorcerer Mansa Du Paul is calculating and wholly evil. There was a point in the story where the specific nature of the threats the spirit poses against young Krissy are detailed, and I knew then that I couldn't make any assumptions about where the story was headed.
While the parents, Janet and Robert Patterson, are rather bland characters, I really warmed to some of the side characters, like the couple who run the camp. If you're sensitive to animal deaths, be forewarned that you'll find an unpleasant one in these pages. Personally, I was able to skim over this bit. And the creepy kid action in the final third of the book made it worth it.
I thought the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly, but really enjoyed this read overall.
July 9, 2023
This is my first book from Owl Goingback, but I’m definitely going to be reading a lot more after this...loved his style of writing.
Robert and Janet Patterson are vacationing with their 10 year old daughter Krissy, at ‘Fish Camp’, Florida before going off to Disney World.
Many many years ago, there was an evil kind of witch doctor called Mansa Du Paul who would reign over the slaves living on the land, and offer up blood sacrifices to appease the Gods. The main “sacrificial lambs” were the children who would be killed and then have their bodies eaten by Mansa, their innocence giving him more power.
He eventually gets killed, and his body parts are scattered in the lagoon, which is now part of ‘Fish Camp’, but his spirit has been laying in wait until the perfect child comes along, to help bring him back from the dead...Krissy!!
With the help of a Seminole Native American, medicine man called Jimmy Cypress, whose ancestors were the ones who killed Mansa, all those years ago, Robert and Janet try to rescue Krissy from Mansa’s possession.
This was bloody and gory, and had some creepy parts...CREEPY KID ALERT!! Once I picked up this book, it was difficult to put it down. The storyline is awesome, there’s a good mix of characters who are likeable, with a cute old dog called Patch. This is a story which had me feeling as though I was vacationing at ‘Fish Camp’. The author has a way of bringing the reader into the story.
I thought this was a great little book which had my attention from the first page, until the very end. The only thing I didn’t like about it...it was quite repetitive at times, the same phrases and sentences would keep popping up, which got a bit samey...”special friend” being one which was quite overused, which stopped this from being a 5 ⭐️ read.
I highly recommend this book and give it a rating of...
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, which I gladly and voluntarily give this free review.
Robert and Janet Patterson are vacationing with their 10 year old daughter Krissy, at ‘Fish Camp’, Florida before going off to Disney World.
Many many years ago, there was an evil kind of witch doctor called Mansa Du Paul who would reign over the slaves living on the land, and offer up blood sacrifices to appease the Gods. The main “sacrificial lambs” were the children who would be killed and then have their bodies eaten by Mansa, their innocence giving him more power.
He eventually gets killed, and his body parts are scattered in the lagoon, which is now part of ‘Fish Camp’, but his spirit has been laying in wait until the perfect child comes along, to help bring him back from the dead...Krissy!!
With the help of a Seminole Native American, medicine man called Jimmy Cypress, whose ancestors were the ones who killed Mansa, all those years ago, Robert and Janet try to rescue Krissy from Mansa’s possession.
This was bloody and gory, and had some creepy parts...CREEPY KID ALERT!! Once I picked up this book, it was difficult to put it down. The storyline is awesome, there’s a good mix of characters who are likeable, with a cute old dog called Patch. This is a story which had me feeling as though I was vacationing at ‘Fish Camp’. The author has a way of bringing the reader into the story.
I thought this was a great little book which had my attention from the first page, until the very end. The only thing I didn’t like about it...it was quite repetitive at times, the same phrases and sentences would keep popping up, which got a bit samey...”special friend” being one which was quite overused, which stopped this from being a 5 ⭐️ read.
I highly recommend this book and give it a rating of...
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, which I gladly and voluntarily give this free review.
April 21, 2021
This is a good old-fashioned horror novel, fun and filled with page-turning tension. It draws quite well upon both Native American and Catholic heritage, and while the plot unfolds a bit predictably, it's a tightly-written and engaging story. It's set in a very well-portrayed Florida, in The Shadow of the Rat (snort!). If you've ever been tempted to yell "Don't go in there!" at a girl on the screen, chances are this one's for you.
February 13, 2023
In the 1800s a group of Seminole warriors thought they put an end to Mansa Du Paul, a child-murdering voodoo practitioner who had been stealing their children for his evil rituals.
Unfortunately, they only destroyed his body, not knowing his spirit lies in wait for the chance to return. That chance comes when the Patterson family arrives for what they expect to be a relaxing vacation.
This is my first full-length read by this author, but having previously read a few of his short stories in anthologies that I enjoyed, I have been meaning to pick up his novels ever since. I'm so glad I finally did.
Evil Whispers is old-school classic horror. An evil entity has possessed a child. Only one man suspects the truth of what has taken control of poor little Krissy Patterson but it's hard to be a hero and a suspect at the same time. He has protected others from this evil once before, but can he do it again?
I loved these characters and the mix of modern-day horror with Native American folklore. It was fast paced and suspenseful with just the right amount of murder and mayhem. The vivid descriptions had all my senses engaged.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications
Unfortunately, they only destroyed his body, not knowing his spirit lies in wait for the chance to return. That chance comes when the Patterson family arrives for what they expect to be a relaxing vacation.
This is my first full-length read by this author, but having previously read a few of his short stories in anthologies that I enjoyed, I have been meaning to pick up his novels ever since. I'm so glad I finally did.
Evil Whispers is old-school classic horror. An evil entity has possessed a child. Only one man suspects the truth of what has taken control of poor little Krissy Patterson but it's hard to be a hero and a suspect at the same time. He has protected others from this evil once before, but can he do it again?
I loved these characters and the mix of modern-day horror with Native American folklore. It was fast paced and suspenseful with just the right amount of murder and mayhem. The vivid descriptions had all my senses engaged.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications
May 11, 2023
Der Geist des wirklich, wirklich bösen Voodoo-Priester Mansa Du Paul (man kann gar nicht oft genug betonen, wie sehr er das ist, böse nämlich, und das sogar mit Inbrunst und Leidenschaft über seinen Tod hinaus), der ganz zu recht oder doch zumindest verständlicher Weise vor 200 Jahren von Seminolen zerstückelt wurde, befällt Geist und Körper der unschuldigen (und auch das muss der Rezensent betonen, weil der Autor es als Standardadjektiv wiederholt) 10-jährigen Krissy, die mit ihren Eltern Urlaub in Florida macht. Jene, die Eltern also, können wir vernachlässigen, da sie in Sachen Plot auf dem Rücksitz der Geschichte bleiben. Vielmehr ist es ein Indianer, Nachfahre der Seminolen, die Mansa schon einmal aus dem Leben befördert haben, der die Gefahr erkennt und versuchen wird, das unschuldige (!) Kind zu retten. Auch wenn es hier mehr um Mythen und Amerikana geht, muss man doch auch ein wenig an den Bibel-Geschichte vom verlorenen Schaf denken; will sagen: Was sind schon ein paar Kollateralschäden (Menschenleben), wenn es um die Rettung des unschuldigen (!) Mädchens und der endgültigen Vernichtung von Mansas bösem Geist geht?
Die Stärke von EVIL WHISPERS liegt gewiss nicht in einem spannungsgeladenen Plot, der unerhörte neue Ideen ins Genre der Horrorliteratur bringt und den Leser mit unvorhersehbaren Twists überrascht. Und auch das Romanpersonal ist zwar durchaus sympathisch, aber Tiefenschärfe sucht man bei den Charakteren vergeblich. Das "kompensiert" der Autor dadurch, dass er Krissys Eltern immer wieder die gleichen Gedanken in nur leichten Variationen durch den Kopf gehen lässt, teilweise in identischen Formulierungen. Aber irgendwie ist das auch eine realistische Abbildung der Eltern-Ängste, deren Kind spurlos verschwunden ist.
Und trotzdem: Mir hat es Spaß gemacht, das Buch zu lesen. Der Schauplatz, ein Anglercamp in Florida, umgeben von nichts als Natur, trägt zur Stimmung genauso bei wie die Menschen, die dort leben und fast schon zu sympathisch sind. Dazu flicht Owl Goingback ein wenig indianische Geschichte und Kultur ein, zwar kein Schwerpunkt, aber doch auch eine Grundierung.
Am Ende fühlte es sich so an, als habe man einen klassischen Horror-Roman der 80er Jahre gelesen oder einen gelungenen Horror-Film angeschaut. Man schlägt das Buch zu und seufzt leise.
Die Stärke von EVIL WHISPERS liegt gewiss nicht in einem spannungsgeladenen Plot, der unerhörte neue Ideen ins Genre der Horrorliteratur bringt und den Leser mit unvorhersehbaren Twists überrascht. Und auch das Romanpersonal ist zwar durchaus sympathisch, aber Tiefenschärfe sucht man bei den Charakteren vergeblich. Das "kompensiert" der Autor dadurch, dass er Krissys Eltern immer wieder die gleichen Gedanken in nur leichten Variationen durch den Kopf gehen lässt, teilweise in identischen Formulierungen. Aber irgendwie ist das auch eine realistische Abbildung der Eltern-Ängste, deren Kind spurlos verschwunden ist.
Und trotzdem: Mir hat es Spaß gemacht, das Buch zu lesen. Der Schauplatz, ein Anglercamp in Florida, umgeben von nichts als Natur, trägt zur Stimmung genauso bei wie die Menschen, die dort leben und fast schon zu sympathisch sind. Dazu flicht Owl Goingback ein wenig indianische Geschichte und Kultur ein, zwar kein Schwerpunkt, aber doch auch eine Grundierung.
Am Ende fühlte es sich so an, als habe man einen klassischen Horror-Roman der 80er Jahre gelesen oder einen gelungenen Horror-Film angeschaut. Man schlägt das Buch zu und seufzt leise.
July 8, 2024
Review in the April 1, 2023 issue of Booklist and on the blog with more info: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2023/03...
Three Words That Describe This Book: strong sense of place, revenge, steadily increasing terror
Evil Whispers stands as proof that the classic, pulp horror storytelling style can not only remain vibrant but that it can also pay homage to its inspiration while actively casting off the racism and cultural appropriation that anchored so many titles from the Paperbacks from Hell era.
Three Words That Describe This Book: strong sense of place, revenge, steadily increasing terror
Evil Whispers stands as proof that the classic, pulp horror storytelling style can not only remain vibrant but that it can also pay homage to its inspiration while actively casting off the racism and cultural appropriation that anchored so many titles from the Paperbacks from Hell era.
June 26, 2023
What a disappointment, I was a big fan of Crota but Evil Whispers was a chore to sit through. The child character was poorly written but child characters are hard to write, so that got a pass. But, all the characters had the same voice, and worse yet there were too many repetitive descriptions, reused passages, and readdressing the same scene with only slightly different words used.
May 19, 2023
Robert and Janet Patterson love their ten year old daughter, Chrissy. It's vacation time and the family have decided to go to a place called Blackwater where such activities as Canoeing and Fishing are readily available.
Little do they know that this land has a very disturbing history. A history involving an ancient evil that used to be human that was defeated a long time ago. But there have been stirrings, and even though this evil has been defeated, it still remains alive in another form. And it's waiting for the perfect innocent person to help it be free once again.
The insanity begins when Chrissy Patterson seems to have imagined a new friend. A friend that wants her to do things no ten year old would normally do
Enjoyed this book tremendously and this author reminds me a lot of Richard Laymond and Stephen King's stuff!!
Got this as an ARC, but this review is my own.
Little do they know that this land has a very disturbing history. A history involving an ancient evil that used to be human that was defeated a long time ago. But there have been stirrings, and even though this evil has been defeated, it still remains alive in another form. And it's waiting for the perfect innocent person to help it be free once again.
The insanity begins when Chrissy Patterson seems to have imagined a new friend. A friend that wants her to do things no ten year old would normally do
Enjoyed this book tremendously and this author reminds me a lot of Richard Laymond and Stephen King's stuff!!
Got this as an ARC, but this review is my own.
October 1, 2008
Oh, don’t look at me like that. I know what you’re thinking, “Not another beach book?!”
Look people, everybody needs a little escapism. Geez, how do you think Clay Aiken and Brittany Spears’ careers took off? Some of us need a break and our brains need a rest. So, take the disgusted look off your face and “intellectual” conversation down the block to the cappuccino café because we’re all about the Krispy Kremes and Hollywood gossip.
Did they leave? Good. Now, back to what I was saying…
This story was nothing but good times! Sure, the plot has obvious patterns that even a blind man can see, but I welcomed said arrangement. Yes, I knew the minute the Pattersons arrived at the fish camp what would most likely ensue, but I didn’t care. And when Krissy stumbled naively and rather precariously near the lagoon, I yelled at her, “Don’t do it girl!” But I kept on reading knowing damn well what the outcome would be. Why, you ask? Let me repeat it for you: beach book. A book that only requires a small amount of actual thought, but demands all of your attention. In other words, Evil Whispers is the equivalent of a box of donuts to a Weight Watchers enrollee: a shameful guilty pleasure. And oh how I love my Reese’s Cups.
And okay, so the characters were bit too stereotyped and over-dramatic. So what if their actions were formulated to the point that I knew the why, where, and how before the story was even a quarter of the way through? Sometimes that predictability can be comforting. But hey, at least the pace was swift and the atmosphere was either non-existent or so good I never noticed it. Either way, it never really distracted away from the story, but it also didn't elevate it. And sure Goingback’s style of writing is, at times, a little too simple and way too repetitive, but he can also weave a sentence together better than most A-listers on the NY Times bestseller list. Straightforward and concise, I’d buy another book by Goingback in a heartbeat.
My rating? I give it a solid 3. Knee deep in piles and piles of excruciatingly painful books that only entertain my suicidal tendencies, Owl Goingback’s ability to captivate saved my sanity and my wrists.
-As posted on Horror-Web.com
Look people, everybody needs a little escapism. Geez, how do you think Clay Aiken and Brittany Spears’ careers took off? Some of us need a break and our brains need a rest. So, take the disgusted look off your face and “intellectual” conversation down the block to the cappuccino café because we’re all about the Krispy Kremes and Hollywood gossip.
Did they leave? Good. Now, back to what I was saying…
This story was nothing but good times! Sure, the plot has obvious patterns that even a blind man can see, but I welcomed said arrangement. Yes, I knew the minute the Pattersons arrived at the fish camp what would most likely ensue, but I didn’t care. And when Krissy stumbled naively and rather precariously near the lagoon, I yelled at her, “Don’t do it girl!” But I kept on reading knowing damn well what the outcome would be. Why, you ask? Let me repeat it for you: beach book. A book that only requires a small amount of actual thought, but demands all of your attention. In other words, Evil Whispers is the equivalent of a box of donuts to a Weight Watchers enrollee: a shameful guilty pleasure. And oh how I love my Reese’s Cups.
And okay, so the characters were bit too stereotyped and over-dramatic. So what if their actions were formulated to the point that I knew the why, where, and how before the story was even a quarter of the way through? Sometimes that predictability can be comforting. But hey, at least the pace was swift and the atmosphere was either non-existent or so good I never noticed it. Either way, it never really distracted away from the story, but it also didn't elevate it. And sure Goingback’s style of writing is, at times, a little too simple and way too repetitive, but he can also weave a sentence together better than most A-listers on the NY Times bestseller list. Straightforward and concise, I’d buy another book by Goingback in a heartbeat.
My rating? I give it a solid 3. Knee deep in piles and piles of excruciatingly painful books that only entertain my suicidal tendencies, Owl Goingback’s ability to captivate saved my sanity and my wrists.
-As posted on Horror-Web.com
September 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this classic tale of good vs. evil set in the steamy Florida landscape. The lore from both the evil Mansa and his roots in voodoo-type rituals and the beliefs of the Native peoples infused what could have been a cut and dry tale of basic possession that we've seen from the Catholic viewpoint many times and turned it into something unique. It's a fast read and one that keeps you turning the pages, even late into the night.
August 10, 2022
In Evil Whispers, Owl Goingback takes us to the backwoods swamps of Florida, where the Patterson family plans to enjoy a quiet vacation before they brave the commercial insanity of Walt Disney World for their daughter, Krissy. Unfortunately, that particular swath of swamp and woodland has a horrifying and blasphemous history that doesn't appear in the tourism materials.
Innocent, relaxing days of fishing and venturing onto the river in kayaks begin transforming into a disorienting nightmare as Krissy makes a new friend. It isn't long before this friend has the young girl performing seemingly random tasks, and soon there may not be anything left of Krissy.
As the terrifying past emerges from the swamp, the haunted history of the location comes to life, and it'll take everything the Pattersons have--along with the help of a reclusive Seminole named Jimmy--to have any chance of saving Krissy from a fate worse than death.
The pacing is fantastic, as Goingback weaves a tale that incorporates elements of indigenous spirituality, Haitian magic, and the love of family into a vibrant tapestry that is impossible to put down.
Cathi Colas provides excellent narration, fully separating the characters and providing each with their own distinct personalities.
Innocent, relaxing days of fishing and venturing onto the river in kayaks begin transforming into a disorienting nightmare as Krissy makes a new friend. It isn't long before this friend has the young girl performing seemingly random tasks, and soon there may not be anything left of Krissy.
As the terrifying past emerges from the swamp, the haunted history of the location comes to life, and it'll take everything the Pattersons have--along with the help of a reclusive Seminole named Jimmy--to have any chance of saving Krissy from a fate worse than death.
The pacing is fantastic, as Goingback weaves a tale that incorporates elements of indigenous spirituality, Haitian magic, and the love of family into a vibrant tapestry that is impossible to put down.
Cathi Colas provides excellent narration, fully separating the characters and providing each with their own distinct personalities.
August 4, 2022
3.5 Stars. I have been meaning to read this author for a long time so when I had a chance to pick up a free audio copy of this work, I jumped all over it.
I don't know when this was originally published but it had an old school horror feel to it. By old school I mean 80's or 90's. I enjoyed it even though it was a wee predictable in parts the writing was good enough to pull me through and I am glad it did.
*Ha! I noticed the pub date as 2001...but it felt older school than that. And that in this instance is a good thing.
I don't know when this was originally published but it had an old school horror feel to it. By old school I mean 80's or 90's. I enjoyed it even though it was a wee predictable in parts the writing was good enough to pull me through and I am glad it did.
*Ha! I noticed the pub date as 2001...but it felt older school than that. And that in this instance is a good thing.
May 14, 2022
Nothing like spending family time in nature. The Pattersons, with their young daughter Krissy, are visiting Blackwater Fish Camp with hiking trails, canoe trips on the river all surrounded by nature. Only rule is to stay away from Jimmy’s shack up the river a bit. He is a Seminole who is squatting on state land so just leave him alone.
Things are stirring under the swamp, luring an innocent girl away from her parents. They didn’t believe Krissy when she said she had an invisible friend to talk to. Will evil resurface in this tiny remote area?
This was my first Owl Goingback book and I really enjoyed it. It has all the elements of a perfect horror story.
Things are stirring under the swamp, luring an innocent girl away from her parents. They didn’t believe Krissy when she said she had an invisible friend to talk to. Will evil resurface in this tiny remote area?
This was my first Owl Goingback book and I really enjoyed it. It has all the elements of a perfect horror story.
June 18, 2022
Evil Whispers (by Owl Goingback) [narrated by Cathi Colas]
Robert and Janet Patterson think they’ve found the perfect location to get away from it all. Along with their young daughter Krissy, they intend for a lazy getaway from it all. A little bit of fishing, and a lot of lounging around will fill their coming weeks, if they get what they are looking for. But the best laid plan for any family can easily go awry, but it is especially ebay for things to go wrong when you choose the spot where Mansa DuPaul lived his final moments, assuming he stopped living at all.
The horror that followed them could have been avoided if they had listened to Krissy when she spoke of the whispers she heard in the forest that surrounded their holiday home. It all could have been avoided if Robert had listened to the strange Seminole man Jimmy when he was warned. But city slickers knew better than to listen to the wittering's of country folk, especially when the talk is of superstition and mumbo-jumbo.
But as Jimmy might have said, “To hear you have to listen.”
This is my first book by the intriguing named Owl Goingback, and I had no idea what to expect at all from the author. Initially I was drawn to the book by the cover art - I’m a sucker for nice cover art - and I’ve also been working my way through the books released by Encyclopocalypse Productions, mainly because the narrator Sean Duregger - a favourite of mine - does a lot of work for them. So this author, as well as the narrator, was entirely new to me.
Within a chapter I knew this book would be an easy read. There’s not a lot of fluff here, the style is simple and there are no word games going on in the text. It’s almost like reading a Young Adult novel from that perspective. Even if you’re not a big reader Owl Goingback would be an easy author to get into. As long as you are not easily rattled, that is.
The content of Evil Whispers is definitely not a family friendly affair, and I think there needs to be a warning to anyone tempted to read the book. Thankfully the bloodshed metered out in Evil Whispers is directed at the adults of the tale, rather than the children, but there were times I thought to myself that the people inhabiting the book went to extremely unsettling places in their minds.
The story itself was largely unremarkable, you’ve probably read something similar many times, but it is told well, and there is an underlying nastiness that keeps the reader on their toes. This isn’t to say that Owl Goingback is one of those “extreme horror” authors that have become popular recently, but rather he knows how to insert the belief that something horrible is nearing without needing to get too perverse with the text. The core of what makes this book different is not really the story, but the characters. This is the first time I have seen a voodoo inspired evil go up against a Native American good guy. The closest to this - of course - would be Graham Masterton’s The Manitou, so this puts Evil Whispers in - at least in my opinion - good company.
Not only was this my first from the author, but it was also my first from the narrator. Cathi Colas does an admirable job with some very difficult subjects. She manages multiple characters well, dealing with little Krissy in a way that seems - to me - very age appropriate, as well as managing the world-weary wisdom of Jimmy without strain. Both characters represent a very broad range. They are about as different as characters can be. Krissy is a naïve pre-teen who is written as perhaps a little young for her age, and Jimmy is a gruff contrarian who believes the world’s against him - and may well be correct. It’s no mean feat to be able to voice such characters, and the host of others besides, and manage to get them to blend in such a way that they both seem distinct, as well as fitting in the same world. It’s to her credit that I never thought of this until after the book was over and I sat to write this review.
I really enjoyed Evil Whispers. It has the general feel of an 80’s style supernatural horror, while having the twist of cultural clashes between protagonists. It was a quick and easy experience that basically provided everything that was promised.
This is one that I would have considered a good purchase, but I was lucky enough to have been provided a free copy of the audiobook from Encyclopocalypse Productions in exchange for a review. I’m particularly thankful for this opportunity. Not only is Owl Goingback a great find, but Cathi Colas should be considered an equal partner in the book’s success for me. Both have been promptly added to my “must find more from” category.
Robert and Janet Patterson think they’ve found the perfect location to get away from it all. Along with their young daughter Krissy, they intend for a lazy getaway from it all. A little bit of fishing, and a lot of lounging around will fill their coming weeks, if they get what they are looking for. But the best laid plan for any family can easily go awry, but it is especially ebay for things to go wrong when you choose the spot where Mansa DuPaul lived his final moments, assuming he stopped living at all.
The horror that followed them could have been avoided if they had listened to Krissy when she spoke of the whispers she heard in the forest that surrounded their holiday home. It all could have been avoided if Robert had listened to the strange Seminole man Jimmy when he was warned. But city slickers knew better than to listen to the wittering's of country folk, especially when the talk is of superstition and mumbo-jumbo.
But as Jimmy might have said, “To hear you have to listen.”
This is my first book by the intriguing named Owl Goingback, and I had no idea what to expect at all from the author. Initially I was drawn to the book by the cover art - I’m a sucker for nice cover art - and I’ve also been working my way through the books released by Encyclopocalypse Productions, mainly because the narrator Sean Duregger - a favourite of mine - does a lot of work for them. So this author, as well as the narrator, was entirely new to me.
Within a chapter I knew this book would be an easy read. There’s not a lot of fluff here, the style is simple and there are no word games going on in the text. It’s almost like reading a Young Adult novel from that perspective. Even if you’re not a big reader Owl Goingback would be an easy author to get into. As long as you are not easily rattled, that is.
The content of Evil Whispers is definitely not a family friendly affair, and I think there needs to be a warning to anyone tempted to read the book. Thankfully the bloodshed metered out in Evil Whispers is directed at the adults of the tale, rather than the children, but there were times I thought to myself that the people inhabiting the book went to extremely unsettling places in their minds.
The story itself was largely unremarkable, you’ve probably read something similar many times, but it is told well, and there is an underlying nastiness that keeps the reader on their toes. This isn’t to say that Owl Goingback is one of those “extreme horror” authors that have become popular recently, but rather he knows how to insert the belief that something horrible is nearing without needing to get too perverse with the text. The core of what makes this book different is not really the story, but the characters. This is the first time I have seen a voodoo inspired evil go up against a Native American good guy. The closest to this - of course - would be Graham Masterton’s The Manitou, so this puts Evil Whispers in - at least in my opinion - good company.
Not only was this my first from the author, but it was also my first from the narrator. Cathi Colas does an admirable job with some very difficult subjects. She manages multiple characters well, dealing with little Krissy in a way that seems - to me - very age appropriate, as well as managing the world-weary wisdom of Jimmy without strain. Both characters represent a very broad range. They are about as different as characters can be. Krissy is a naïve pre-teen who is written as perhaps a little young for her age, and Jimmy is a gruff contrarian who believes the world’s against him - and may well be correct. It’s no mean feat to be able to voice such characters, and the host of others besides, and manage to get them to blend in such a way that they both seem distinct, as well as fitting in the same world. It’s to her credit that I never thought of this until after the book was over and I sat to write this review.
I really enjoyed Evil Whispers. It has the general feel of an 80’s style supernatural horror, while having the twist of cultural clashes between protagonists. It was a quick and easy experience that basically provided everything that was promised.
This is one that I would have considered a good purchase, but I was lucky enough to have been provided a free copy of the audiobook from Encyclopocalypse Productions in exchange for a review. I’m particularly thankful for this opportunity. Not only is Owl Goingback a great find, but Cathi Colas should be considered an equal partner in the book’s success for me. Both have been promptly added to my “must find more from” category.
June 8, 2023
I really liked the premise of Evil Whispers. An evil voodoo sorcerer who can't be stopped even in death. An unsuspecting family on vacation. It sounded great. Unfortunately, I didn't really like the execution. It started exciting, with the voodoo rituals, but for me it fell off after that. I didn't really get into the main characters at all. Once Krissy went missing, I thought it got rather boring. I would have rather seen more from the points of view of Krissy and Jimmy than the police and family searching. I feel like those two must have been up to something interesting. People traipsing through the woods for days looking for a kid got old. The last 5% or so of the book picked up again when there was a decent amount of action. I wish more of the book had been like the first and last 5%. I also had issues with the way Krissy was described. The reader was beaten over the head with the fact she was a 10 year old, but her descriptions made me think more of a 5-6 year old. She was constantly being described as having tiny hands and tiny feet, being small, and she was at one point lifted into a boat by her dad. My now teenager was about 5 feet tall at 10. My 9 year old niece is smaller than my son was and I wouldn't describe her as having tiny hands or feet. I also thought it was weird that she was taking a nap on vacation. Most kids I know stopped taking naps regularly by the time they go to Kindergarten. I can't see a normal 10 year old taking a nap on vacation. I really wanted to like this book, but it just fell short for me.
March 28, 2024
A lot of readers who write better reviews than I do loved this book, so it's with a heavy heart that I give this one such a low rating. Owl Goingback's plots are always imaginative and layered, but he'll never be accused of being an immaculate proofreader, and neither will his editors. Unfortunately, it's a little more than just isolated typos in this book, which really cripples any suspension of disbelief you might've established.
The characters in this one are not well-developed, by any means, and while I like to forgive a few blemishes on an otherwise great story, I don't get how a reader could be convinced by this small cast of monochrome personalities with identical voices. The setting was great, and the pace moved along well enough to keep me interested, but (no, I don't consider this a spoiler) adding a dog with an eyepatch just to make us uncomfortable when it's mangled by the monster is pretty immature writing. I don't put a lot of stock in twists and surprises, but once the family's conflict is spelled out, no one is going to have a hard time guessing what will happen next. Not to mention the fact that the title is so hyper-literal it could be a Goosebumps book.
So, one star each for: the dog, the typos and the flat characters. Owl Goingback is a fine writer who's authored stories no horror reader should ignore, but this isn't one of them. Make yourself a fire pit and carve a face in a walking stick to make a totem--you'll be just as immersed as you would if you listen to these Evil Whispers.
The characters in this one are not well-developed, by any means, and while I like to forgive a few blemishes on an otherwise great story, I don't get how a reader could be convinced by this small cast of monochrome personalities with identical voices. The setting was great, and the pace moved along well enough to keep me interested, but (no, I don't consider this a spoiler) adding a dog with an eyepatch just to make us uncomfortable when it's mangled by the monster is pretty immature writing. I don't put a lot of stock in twists and surprises, but once the family's conflict is spelled out, no one is going to have a hard time guessing what will happen next. Not to mention the fact that the title is so hyper-literal it could be a Goosebumps book.
So, one star each for: the dog, the typos and the flat characters. Owl Goingback is a fine writer who's authored stories no horror reader should ignore, but this isn't one of them. Make yourself a fire pit and carve a face in a walking stick to make a totem--you'll be just as immersed as you would if you listen to these Evil Whispers.
May 10, 2023
2.5 stars I have been getting more in to reading horror books lately so the book description for this sounded really interesting and i was excited to start reading it I really did like the plot of this book the setting was perfect and the local legend was spooky plus it did definitely have its moments of being creepy. But unfortunately for me this book just did not work I found it very repetitive at times and the recapping of the book being found became frustrating as it was mentioned so many times. I was also not a big fan of the internal dialogues that kept coming up something big would be about to happen like seeing your missing daughter across the camp and instead of going running you stop to overthink what could of happened to them while missing. I am an overthinker myself and I read to escape the constant overthinking of everything so maybe that’s why the inner dialogue bothered me so much lol but that aside I think my problem was just personally I have noticed although new to horror book I enjoy books that build suspense keep we wondering as I read and even when you have finished reading you don’t necessarily have all the answers lol so for me this book just did not do it because everything felt so over explained.
I received a free e copy of this book from book sirens and am leaving my honest review
I received a free e copy of this book from book sirens and am leaving my honest review
May 11, 2023
This was such a well paced straight up horror novel. The images of a ten year old girl possessed by this evil entity and committing these horrific atrocities just gave it a creepy factor of eleven while still managing to deliver a narrative behind the bloodshed that was engaging.
I loved the setting in Florida because how Florida has NOT been the setting for more horror is beyond me! Mansa was a truly frightening being and really solidified what was at stake should his evil plans play out.
Jimmy Cypress was an amazing character. Antagonistic as he first seemed, his willingness to help this family save their daughter was heroic and, eventually, heart breaking.
This author does not shy away from the gore either as this possessed ten year old slices and dices anyone foolish enough to get in her way in the quest for this evil spirit to come back to life. Of course, the girl is innocent as she was only a vessel but knowing that doesn't take away the feeling of dread when you're reading about it.
This book was trying to do one thing: give us a good ol' fashioned bloody horror book. And that goal was more than accomplished. I highly recommend this novel and I'll be reviewing it on my Horror Reads YouTube channel soon.
I loved the setting in Florida because how Florida has NOT been the setting for more horror is beyond me! Mansa was a truly frightening being and really solidified what was at stake should his evil plans play out.
Jimmy Cypress was an amazing character. Antagonistic as he first seemed, his willingness to help this family save their daughter was heroic and, eventually, heart breaking.
This author does not shy away from the gore either as this possessed ten year old slices and dices anyone foolish enough to get in her way in the quest for this evil spirit to come back to life. Of course, the girl is innocent as she was only a vessel but knowing that doesn't take away the feeling of dread when you're reading about it.
This book was trying to do one thing: give us a good ol' fashioned bloody horror book. And that goal was more than accomplished. I highly recommend this novel and I'll be reviewing it on my Horror Reads YouTube channel soon.
May 15, 2022
Mansa DuPaul reign of terror should have ended when he was killed and dismembered by Seminole Warriors for stealing and killing their children but it didn't it only festered in the dark swamp of Florida. Mansa was a very powerful voodoo practitioner and over a century later he gets a chance at resurrection after manipulating the young daughter of a vacationing family. Krissy unwittingly does his bidding because she is too young and immature to recognize true unadulterated evil.
Jimmy a Seminole man is the only one who truly understands what is going on as he is the one who helped keep the evil bound and defenseless. Mansa soon takes control of Krissy's mind and body and seeks control to bring forth his resurrection and reign of hell.
This old fashioned horror novel is not just about the supernatural but it also contains Indigenous beliefs as well as Christian beliefs about such things as possession and evil. This story is fast paced and well written with strong well developed characters and plot. I received this book for free upon my request but it has no bearing on this unbiased review that I am voluntarily leaving of my own volition.
Jimmy a Seminole man is the only one who truly understands what is going on as he is the one who helped keep the evil bound and defenseless. Mansa soon takes control of Krissy's mind and body and seeks control to bring forth his resurrection and reign of hell.
This old fashioned horror novel is not just about the supernatural but it also contains Indigenous beliefs as well as Christian beliefs about such things as possession and evil. This story is fast paced and well written with strong well developed characters and plot. I received this book for free upon my request but it has no bearing on this unbiased review that I am voluntarily leaving of my own volition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2023
An old-fashioned horror story. I liked the voodoo story. I think voodoo is always scary.
It was repetitive, that was a pity.
What didn't sounded right, was the girl. She is described as tiny, little and taking afternoon naps. This is not a ten year old girl. Ten year old girls don't take naps in the afternoon. They swim, play, climb a tree. It was a camp after all. You don't need to lift a ten year old in a boat.
It is a five year old. Children who attend Kindergarten, can take an afternoon nap. When they are six they go to school in the afternoon, no time for napping. Don't be afraid she cannot lift the knife, because she had voodoo power.
The parents I found annoying. I liked the Indian, the one with the brains. Admired his sacrifice in the end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was repetitive, that was a pity.
What didn't sounded right, was the girl. She is described as tiny, little and taking afternoon naps. This is not a ten year old girl. Ten year old girls don't take naps in the afternoon. They swim, play, climb a tree. It was a camp after all. You don't need to lift a ten year old in a boat.
It is a five year old. Children who attend Kindergarten, can take an afternoon nap. When they are six they go to school in the afternoon, no time for napping. Don't be afraid she cannot lift the knife, because she had voodoo power.
The parents I found annoying. I liked the Indian, the one with the brains. Admired his sacrifice in the end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 14, 2023
This work was atmospheric and eerie, turning a place where you'd at most worry about alligators into one that was harboring an evil beyond death. It's strengths lie there, and in a few of the characters and it's weaknesses if I had to point any out in some of the mechanics around those characters and the story beats they come to.
It's an old school tale of voodoo and possession and a bit of a slow burn, but in the last quarter it ratchets up and there's enough excitement to get you through to the conclusion.
Recommended both as a horror story in a sea of horror stories, but also as a horror story that explores Voodoo and Native American folklore.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's an old school tale of voodoo and possession and a bit of a slow burn, but in the last quarter it ratchets up and there's enough excitement to get you through to the conclusion.
Recommended both as a horror story in a sea of horror stories, but also as a horror story that explores Voodoo and Native American folklore.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 5, 2023
Thank you to Cemetery Dance Publications for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is a slasher and possession tale of a black magic voodoo sorcerer killed by the local tribe of Seminoles in Florida in the early 1800s. A century later, the spirit of said voodoo sorcerer possesses a child to help him complete his 'resurrection.' Will Seminole medicine prevent this event and/or save the child? Nothing too gory or terrifying here, but a lot of blood is spilled in the battle of good vs evil. I liked it! Read it!
May 17, 2023
If going on a vacation in the swamps of Florida means becoming possessed by an ancient evil spirit, then I pass. The camping in a cabin sounds like it might be fun. I am sure I would not be wandering off the trail. Who knows what one might encounter. And if some random voice begins speaking to me I am hightailing out of the forest. So many things were so wrong with this spirit. He had used souls to gain power, he had slaves and he ate children; because they ‘tasted’ do good. No thanks! This might be fiction but folklore is around for a reason.
June 17, 2023
Evil Whispers is a novel about a dark evil lurking in a lagoon in Florida. This evil lures 10 year old Krissy into the woods to possess her body and then cause havoc.
A fast-moving and easy read, with suspense and violence. At one point, as the tension was building I actually stood up and paced while reading!
Unfortunately, there is some awkward dialogue and some repetitive rehashing of plot details that bog down the pace.
But all in all, a predictable horror story with some surprising scares.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A fast-moving and easy read, with suspense and violence. At one point, as the tension was building I actually stood up and paced while reading!
Unfortunately, there is some awkward dialogue and some repetitive rehashing of plot details that bog down the pace.
But all in all, a predictable horror story with some surprising scares.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 31, 2023
What a fun and horrific adventure in the swamp lands of Florida. This one will certainly appeal to lovers of 80's style horror. It was a well paced story that did a good job in establishing characters that were believable and didn't feel like stereotypes or tropes. I would recommend this to those who enjoy First Nations story lines and creepy kid tropes.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing me with a copy of this title free of charge. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing me with a copy of this title free of charge. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
May 6, 2023
Whispers in the woods
Robert takes his family on vacation to a very isolated town in Florida. They are far from everything. His daughter Krissy is lonely she goes somewhere she shouldn't. Krissy starts hearing voices. No one believes her. Some things evil is after Krissy. Can her father save her from an old evil?
Robert takes his family on vacation to a very isolated town in Florida. They are far from everything. His daughter Krissy is lonely she goes somewhere she shouldn't. Krissy starts hearing voices. No one believes her. Some things evil is after Krissy. Can her father save her from an old evil?
July 5, 2023
Evil Whispers was my introduction to Goingback. I was very impressed and even more entertained. Owl mixed a lot of Seminole facts and traditions into this book. However, don't fool yourself, this book was fast paced, wonderfully written and down right fun to read.
I highly recommend sitting down with owl Goingback and having a great time. I imagine this will be the first of many for me.
I highly recommend sitting down with owl Goingback and having a great time. I imagine this will be the first of many for me.
February 3, 2024
Another book from Cemetery Dance Publications. If you like scary stories this is the place to go. Many of my favorite authors are found here.
Alligators and big snakes aren’t the only scary things in Florida according to this book. See who survives and who doesn’t and be careful where you go on vacation.
Alligators and big snakes aren’t the only scary things in Florida according to this book. See who survives and who doesn’t and be careful where you go on vacation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews