Hi! Well, since I am a bit at loss at how to start the first paragraph of this post, I guess I should just start with the review before I start rambling about everything that is happening just to fill up this first paragraph(and this is what I am actually doing right now)🤦♀️
Title: The Whispering House
Author: Elizabeth Brooks
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Gothic
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Freya Lyell is still affected by the death of her big sister, Stella Lyell and hasn’t forgotten the day she went away from home, leaving her and her father, alone.
One day, her and her father go to attend a wedding at Byrne Hall, just a few miles away from where Stella threw herself from the cliffs and died.
As Freya enters the house of the Bryne family, which is out of bounds to all guests, to her absolute horror and shock, she finds a picture of Stella in one of the rooms, that looks like a mosaic with lots of pieces stuck together to form Stella. The mystery is that she has no hands…
Freya falls asleep in the dimly lit room and when she wakes up…the portrait had dissappeared. Freya is sure that she hasn’t imagined the portrait but she begins to doubt if she saw Stella or not.
When she returns home, she is determined to find out about the mystery portrait and for that, she will have to leave her father at home alone. When she reaches Bryne Hall, she meets Diana Bryne, the owner of the house and her son Cory Bryne.
Soon Fraya falls in love with Cory. Deciding to abandon her job in London, she stays at Bryne Hall with Cory who spends his time painting Freya.
Very slowly, as secrets begin to unravel themselves, Fraya learns that Stella DID set foot in this place, because it was Cory who drew that picture of her sister…
Freya begins to suspect Cory and Stella’s murder instead of Stella’s suicide seems like a good idea after all…
About the Author:
Elizabeth Brooks grew up in Chester but she lives with her husband and children on Isle de Man. She started by writing her debut novel, Call of the Curlew in 2018. Her new novel, The Whispering House is set in a manor house, that is, Bryne Hall.
Source of picture: tinhouse.com
My ratings: 3.7/5
The book was really nice. It was eerie. I kinda liked Bryne Hall because I could actually imagine the staircases, the dark rooms, the portraits along the wall. The thing is I couldn’t actually connect with the characters very much (I couldn’t ‘step into Freya’s shoes’) and I think that the aura of mystery should have been greater but otherwise, it was an enjoyable read. There was also many flashbacks of Stella and I think they helped put a lot of sense in the book too.
Would I recommend this book? Well, I think yes, but I don’t really think you HAVE to read it…(if you get what I mean)
Well, have a nice day!
Love, Hermione
Portable Magic 