Plano Reads: The Whisper Man

For our next session of Mystery Book Club, meeting virtually on Zoom and in-person at Haggard Library on Thursday, November 18 at 7 p.m., we’re discussing The Whisper Man by Alex North.

Continue reading this post for summary, review and read-along suggestions from Librarian Meredith.

Description from Libby: In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.

After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town. Featherbank.

But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed “The Whisper Man,” for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.

Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter’s crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.

And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window…

Alex North’s debut novel is a gripping mix of supernatural and police procedural. Using multiple points of view, North keeps readers on their toes as each person’s thread comes together to create a suspense-filled narrative. The complexities of father-son relationships is also an underlying theme that brings added depth and emotions. North does a fantastic job of building an increasing wave of tension as the detectives race to catch the killer before he strikes again.

Alex North was born in Leeds, England, where he now lives with his wife and son. The Whisper Man was inspired by North’s own little boy, who mentioned one day that he was playing with “the boy in the floor.” Alex North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name, Steve Mosby.