The Murmurings

Feb 21, 2013 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, arc, paranormal, mystery-thriller

This cover…

…She is looking into my soul!! *rocks back and forth*

This cover is going to give any reader the expectation of a major creep-fest, and it does start out pretty fantastic on that front, hooking you from the first few pages. It's bizarre and freaky, the MC seeing things from the corner of her eye and hearing unwelcome mutterings. It definitely gave me the heeby-jeebies. Along the way, however, I did feel like the book veered a little too off course for me, trapped in a web of Takers, S...more This cover…

…She is looking into my soul!! *rocks back and forth*

This cover is going to give any reader the expectation of a major creep-fest, and it does start out pretty fantastic on that front, hooking you from the first few pages. It's bizarre and freaky, the MC seeing things from the corner of her eye and hearing unwelcome mutterings. It definitely gave me the heeby-jeebies. Along the way, however, I did feel like the book veered a little too off course for me, trapped in a web of Takers, Seers, and other explanations behind the story. There was also the lack of character development that stopped me from being one hundred percent immersed into it all. Furthermore, the romance is one I did not care for. I feel the book would have been better off without it. If I based it just on the creepy, though, it would be getting a 4!

As far as characters go, I liked Sophie well enough--although I did forget her name within minutes of finishing the book. To me she's what I consider a surface character. She's good for the story, she fills her role, but there isn't much more to her. With this superficial personality I don't feel like I really got to know her. In turn, this affected the romance in the book even further I'm quite sure, which is a part I didn't particularly enjoy either. The way they meet and "connect", the way they interact, even the way they kiss it all felt out of place. I'm not sure if it was my impatience towards wanting to move along and get more creepy happenings, but I don't even understand how they got to be together. Suddenly, he was just there. Then poof, we've got a romantic subplot. Even though it wasn't an insta-love in the sense that they were madly in love within days, the connection and the chemistry missed its mark for me.

Oh the murmurings! Whispers and strange mutterings, unable to understand what's being said, feeling breath on your neck, mirrors that start to shimmer and move like liquid, seeing something from the corner of your eye; this is all pretty disturbing. I have to give props for this book's creepy factor. While it wasn't as constant as I was hoping due to the story kind of wandering off, this book has some great spine-chilling moments that gives its reader a bit of a rush. Those were my favorite parts hands down, and the way it's played out in the plot is interesting enough with a unique way about it. It's different from what I was expecting, though, it being a lore rather than unexplained phenomenon messing with your mind--which you gotta admit is much funner. Either way, a creepy book is what we have, it's just unfortunate there isn't much more to it than that.

For fans of thrillers, The Murmurings brings us an ominous mental institution with questionable doctors, and patients who are suffering a terrible curse. Its potential was bigger than its execution, had it had stronger characters and a tighter plot, but the book is great for an entertainingly eerie read.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

(less)

40 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Blythe rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: highly-anticipating-2013, judge-a-book-by-the-cover, 2013-reads, almost-fell-asleep, arc, awesome-world-building, brb-biting-my-nails, caught-in-a-bad-romance, clever-plot-twists, creeeeepy, didn-t-see-that-coming, i-totally-saw-that-coming, mind-blowing-ending, read-reviewed, synopses-that-lie, unmet-potential

I feel like The Murmurings is really comprised of two vastly different novels combined into one: the first half being its own novel; a dark contemporary of sorts where a girl is grieving over the death of her sister, and a boy helps pick up the pieces, with some dark and somewhat creepy paranormal happenings taking place every now and then, and then there's the second half being its own little novel; a somewhat creepy, thrilling, and fun paranormal/psychological read with a great deal of secrecy...more I feel like The Murmurings is really comprised of two vastly different novels combined into one: the first half being its own novel; a dark contemporary of sorts where a girl is grieving over the death of her sister, and a boy helps pick up the pieces, with some dark and somewhat creepy paranormal happenings taking place every now and then, and then there's the second half being its own little novel; a somewhat creepy, thrilling, and fun paranormal/psychological read with a great deal of secrecy, mental hospitals, experimentation, and deceit thrown in.

But it's where those two 'novels' meet, and how the vastly different aspects in each 'novel' transition together, and more importantly how long the entire novel itself truly takes to reach its promised creepy and paranormal aspects, where I feel The Murmurings met its greatest faults.

The entire first half of The Murmurings--or as I put it, the 'contemporary novel'--was an incredibly rocky, boring, and frustrating experience for me. For those of you who have been reading my reviews for a while now, you'll know that I don't mind a lot of exposition when reading, as long as I feel it is crucial and beneficent to the progression of the plot. In The Murmurings, however, I feel like the exposition was stretched out far longer than necessary, also meddled in with uninteresting aspects of the novel, such as the romance.

I'm not against romance in young adult novels; it seems like almost all young adult novels do have a romance in one way or another, and I honestly have no issue with that whatsoever. However, what I do take issue with is when the plot is practically thrown under the bus for romance and boy drama, which is exactly what happened in the first half of The Murmurings.

But then there's the second half of The Murmurings--or, as I also put it, the fun paranormal/psychological novel--which is an entirely different monster (no pun intended) than the first half, and the reason The Murmurings is receiving three stars from me. While it may have taken a bit too long to happen, the second half of The Murmurings is a thoroughly fun, and at times chilling read, which finally lived up to the promise of the cover and synopsis. Though I can't say I found it to be particularly creepy, it will certainly appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and paranormal lore.

Although the character development may be a bit lacking, and the first half just screamed for the book to be abandoned, I'm glad that I decided to stick with The Murmurings to experience the fun ride that is the second half. While it's definitely not as creepy of a read as I had hoped, The Murmurings was well-written, fun, and had a surprising sense of poignancy towards the end, and because of that I am able to say that I feel it is a worthwhile read for fans of psychological and paranormal thrillers, even if that's only for the second half.(less)

20 likes · like · see review

Mar 11, 2013 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

"Best not to get used to that," I tell myself. It's not a good thing to start missing the company of your own imagination.

Have you ever watched a movie with a great deal of suspenseful buildup, only to get to the end and realize that you were sitting around waiting for nothing? *edit* I do need to clarify that there was a huge creep factor at the end. I guess I just wanted more knowledge or closure, or something. Even if this does end up being turned into a series, I really don't feel enough...more

18 likes · like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Aa'Ishah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-galley, blog-tour, thriller-or-mystery, reviewed

The Murmurings is a book that, as soon as you so much as glance at it, promises good things. It puts into your mind images of yourself biting your nails, gripping the book/Kindle with white fingers, torn between wanting to turn away because of how creepy it is and that innate need to keep on reading. While it didn't entirely live up to that impression, this was a decent read nevertheless.

Sophie is haunted after the death of her sister, Nell. Everyone assumes that she committed suicide, unable to...more The Murmurings is a book that, as soon as you so much as glance at it, promises good things. It puts into your mind images of yourself biting your nails, gripping the book/Kindle with white fingers, torn between wanting to turn away because of how creepy it is and that innate need to keep on reading. While it didn't entirely live up to that impression, this was a decent read nevertheless.

Sophie is haunted after the death of her sister, Nell. Everyone assumes that she committed suicide, unable to bear the supposed voices that she can hear but no-one else can't. Except Sophie. At first she tries to ignore it, even begins to think that she's going crazy. But soon she learns that the doctors at the mental facility Nell was staying at aren't ordinary doctors, and that there's a reason for why she can hear these voices. Why she can see shadows and distortions in the mirror. And the more she finds out, the more her own life is in danger.

The novel gets off to a good start, immersing you immediately in Sophie's world. I found myself intrigued as to what these murmurings were and how both Nell and Sophie were able to hear them. I'd seen references to Seers and Takers in other reviews, so naturally this made me even more curious. The term 'Seer' was pretty self-explanatory, but 'Taker'? I read eagerly, wanting to have my questions answered. And when I did get them, I was, for the most part, satisfied. Of course I was also waiting to be creeped out, and this was one of the big things that disappointed me. The more sinister scenes come in the second half of the book, and naturally while reading them I was questioning myself for wanting to read a creepy book so badly. But those scenes didn't last very long, and soon I'd be back to feeling slightly disconnected from the writing. At the same time, though, a mental hospital does feature quite heavily in the book, and I always feel slightly uncomfortable reading about them. They're eerie places, and let me tell you, doctors can be very scary people. I'd hate to be on the wrong side of one.

Because of that, and because of the fact that she misses her sister and also has to deal with these freaky whispers in her ear, and because of the other fact that her mother is essentially useless and her aunt focused only on her mother, I did feel sorry for Sophie. She has a lot to deal with, and The Murmurings is another example of how harming people can be. It especially frustrated me that her mother and Aunt Becca made exactly the same mistake as with Nell, apparently having learned nothing. Having said that, however, I wasn't able to entirely connect with Sophie. You'd think that knowing her ability to hear the murmurings, something that no-one else knows, would go a long way towards letting you get to really know her. But I found myself wishing to know more about her, to see layers to her. I wanted her to be a more thoughtful character rather than simply pushing boundaries beyond their limit when she knew that doing so would only end badly. My inability to connect extended to the romance as well. This was perhaps the thing that irked me most. Evan made a couple of appearances and suddenly he's all Sophie can think about. She gets nervous when she's near him. Why does she like him? Why does he like her? More questions, no answers. It ended slightly better than it started, but I still wasn't convinced.

Despite the negativity that seems to have come through here, The Murmurings was actually a good read. Granted, I would have loved a bigger dose of creepiness and the chance to really connect to what I was reading, but there was some feeling drawn from me. The concept behind the book is certainly different, and I'd recommend you read this at least for that that alone. Regardless of all the issues, it's definitely worth sticking with.

This review is also posted on my blog.(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Feb 23, 2013 Wendy Darling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-publication, march, ss, young-adult, thriller-suspense, psychological-thriller, read-2013, horror

Before reading: o_O The cover! Oh my. I hope it's as creepy as it sounds and looks.

After reading: Not anywhere near as creepy as it sounds and looks. *sigh*

2.5 stars Review to come.

14 likes · like · see review

Feb 25, 2013 Molli (at Once Upon a Prologue) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-debut-authors

I love scary things (one of my favorite shows is Supernatural), and I’m drawn to psychological thrillers, so I eagerly downloaded The Murmurings once I was approved to read it. I’m glad I ended up giving Carly Anne West’s debut novel a try, because it was both genuinely spooky, and a good, moving read all at the same time. I was actually scared once or twice while reading, and that just doesn’t happen – I don’t scare easily. The fact that the main character Sophie is sometimes an unreliable narr...more I love scary things (one of my favorite shows is Supernatural), and I’m drawn to psychological thrillers, so I eagerly downloaded The Murmurings once I was approved to read it. I’m glad I ended up giving Carly Anne West’s debut novel a try, because it was both genuinely spooky, and a good, moving read all at the same time. I was actually scared once or twice while reading, and that just doesn’t happen – I don’t scare easily. The fact that the main character Sophie is sometimes an unreliable narrarator only added to the twisted, trippy feel to The Murmurings. West’s book reminded me in a lot of ways of Lucid, another psychological thriller I enjoyed!

Sophie is reeling from the shock of her older sister, Nell’s death, and starting to hear and see the kind of things Nell heard and saw – murmurings, voices that aren’t dechiperable, things that can’t be possible. There was a Gothic feel to The Murmurings complete with a dysfunctinal family, and especially when the asylum Nell stayed at came into play throughout this book. Sophie is disjointed at times and doesn’t trust herself – so as a reader, I wondered if – I – could trust what was happening, especially when the REAL story began to unfold.

The Murmurings is one of those books where you think you’re going to read one kind of a story, then it turns into something else altogether. There’s a supernatural element that I didn’t forsee coming, and while at first it felt far-fetched, I relaxed into what THE MURMURINGS truly is – a mysterious, sad, ghost story. Blythe said it best in her review; the first half is one sort of book, and the second half is another. And the second half is where The Murmurings really shines.

There’s a blush of romance that’s sweet, and gives hope to this otherwise starkly scary tale. West blended that romance in really tenderly, almost a hum in the background, and managed to balance the pacing really well, I thought. I never felt jarred out of The Murmurings.

Although I did feel like some things were wrapped up too neatly at the end, I had to work for my answers, which I liked, and the climax of The Murmurings played out in a pretty cool way. I almost felt like instead of reading a book, I was watching a GOOD scary movie – not one that relies on loud noises, but one that REALLY scares you, and leaves you looking over your shoulder as you walk through your dark house afterward, or afraid to dangle your feet over the bed because of what might be underneath.

If you’re looking for a deliciously dark, spine-tingling read, try The Murmurings. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 24, 2013 Eileen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, edelweiss, for-review, owned, romance, supernatural, young-adult

Check out more of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

Easily enough, by taking one look at this strategically placed model on the cover and her limp hair, you immediately the feeling of "AHHHH MOMMY SAVE ME!" And a subsequent action of jumping into her arms like Shaggy does to Scooby.

Unfortunately, the outside of The Murmurings does not translate to the inside. I found it to be nothing close to creepy. While our main character experiences things that would normally make you run f...more Check out more of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

Easily enough, by taking one look at this strategically placed model on the cover and her limp hair, you immediately the feeling of "AHHHH MOMMY SAVE ME!" And a subsequent action of jumping into her arms like Shaggy does to Scooby.

Unfortunately, the outside of The Murmurings does not translate to the inside. I found it to be nothing close to creepy. While our main character experiences things that would normally make you run for the hills in fear, it isn't translated into a way that would make me empathize with the characters' plights. What could potentially be a phenomenal new addition to the minimal young adult horror books took a turn for the worst halfway through and spiraled downward into a tame, unremarkable half-supernatural, half-suspense book. By the time the climax came and went, I found myself to be bored and, unfortunately, uninterested.

Another issue I had with The Murmurings was our sequence of events. At times, I felt like it was going nowhere at all because while Sophie was trying to uncover the truth behind her sister Nell's death, she never found anything new. During the period when Sophie was playing the role of Sherlock Holmes, she went on multiple hunts through Arizona searching for answers to leads, and while some of her chases led to something greater and more significant, most of them felt like trivial wild-goose chases.

Sophie, our protagonist who experiences the symptoms of voices in her ears and seeing things in the corner of her eyes, was a very intriguing person who managed to play both a curious, determined girl and a scared, grief-stricken girl. Sophie's traits were vital to the story in the way that it helped add meaning. Although I never really felt Sophie's grief and was just expected to assume that she was feeling certain emotions, the way she felt so completely put us into her shoes.

While disappointing on some fronts, The Murmurings by Carly Anne West managed to pull off both the suspenseful and the creepy premise all in one!(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: march-releases, first-reads, challenge-debut-author, challenge-paranormal-fantasy

Sophie's sister, Nell, heard voices. She was committed to a mental hospital, escaped, and was found dead six months ago. Sophie is seen as a freak after what happened. Her mom is depressed and she is desperately trying to move on. Especially since she started hearing voices and seeing things in the mirror. Dr. Keller keeps calling wanting to speak to Sophie's mom about her. Does he know she is hearing voices? Will she have to be committed like her sister?

Sophie starts out as a very shy and scare...more Sophie's sister, Nell, heard voices. She was committed to a mental hospital, escaped, and was found dead six months ago. Sophie is seen as a freak after what happened. Her mom is depressed and she is desperately trying to move on. Especially since she started hearing voices and seeing things in the mirror. Dr. Keller keeps calling wanting to speak to Sophie's mom about her. Does he know she is hearing voices? Will she have to be committed like her sister?

Sophie starts out as a very shy and scared person. When Evan from school shows an interest she wonders why someone like him would be interested in her. Evan's cousin went through something similar to Sophie's sister so together they decide to do a little research and get to the bottom of things. Although Evan having this in common with Sophie was a bit convenient I really enjoyed their relationship. This is when Sophie becomes really strong because she wants to get justice for her sister. She thinks maybe the guy Nell ran off with might of had something to do with it. There are blog posts and lots of info on the internet about others going through this experience. Sophie also goes through Nell's journal which has some interesting clues. I kind of wished that maybe it went to Nell's POV before she disappeared, instead of just diary entries because it felt a bit like info dumping at times.

The paranormal aspect was interesting. It reminded me of The Grudge a bit but I won't say more about it since I thought that was one of the most exciting parts about reading. It is revealed only halfway through so then things become less creepy. I did find the mental institution scary. Sophie in danger of being held there against her will with no way out scares me! Maybe me watching too much American Horror Story: Asylum but that kind of lack of power is pretty scary. Other than that I wouldn't say that this is a super creepy story. I really enjoyed the romance and The Grudge aspects. I read it pretty quickly but I just don't have really strong feelings towards this book one way or the other. I'd recommend giving it a try if it sounds like something you would enjoy.

---
In one quick movement, his lips are on mine, both soft and commanding at the same time. They move from my uppers to my lower lip, fst at first, then slower as we find a rhythm. Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" pipes through the speakers with the same kind of urgency as my heart, which thrums inside me. Evan's hands move from my hair to my neck, from my neck to my shoulders, my shoulders to my back.
He pulls away just long enough to find my ear, his lips brushing my earlobe as he breathes into it: "You have no idea what you do to me."
---

*Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for the ARC*(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 20, 2013 Kandice Dover rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, giveaways

First of all, thanks to Simon Pulse for the arc. :)

Now on with the review.

This book was amazing. Its creepy and exciting and its a big mystery. Now typically I try my best to stay away from anything creepy because I really don't do creepy. I'm the person that runs away from creepy. But I'm glad I gave this a chance.

I really liked Sophie. She's the quiet type. She's sarcastic and fiesty. She's classified as the freak because her loving sister went "crazy" because of the murmurings. I felt bad f...more First of all, thanks to Simon Pulse for the arc. :)

Now on with the review.

This book was amazing. Its creepy and exciting and its a big mystery. Now typically I try my best to stay away from anything creepy because I really don't do creepy. I'm the person that runs away from creepy. But I'm glad I gave this a chance.

I really liked Sophie. She's the quiet type. She's sarcastic and fiesty. She's classified as the freak because her loving sister went "crazy" because of the murmurings. I felt bad for Sophie because the way she was described. She'd lost weight from lack of eating, her eyes were sunken in, she looked sick. And you can't help but to feel sorry for her. Her mom was a drunk. Her aunt expected her to be the adult and refused to acknowledge her feelings about the situation at all. She was lied to. She was left clueless. And she didn't even know her dad. But Evan brought her to life. Which undoubtedly made me happy.

I really liked Evan. Even though he was told about Sophie and her "crazy" sister, he still talked to Sophie. He didn't avoid her like the fucking plague. He didn't make fun of her. He embraced her. He befriended her. He gave her something no one but an english teacher would. A chance. And I liked that he didn't turn away from her, especially after he found out the truth about her. He didn't get pissed and stop talking to her. I'll be honest, I expected it. That's what I've been reading recently, guy gets pissed at girl, guy stops talking to girl completely because guy is pissed off at said girl. It was refreshing that he didn't walk out of her life completely.

From what was said about Nell I liked her. Even though she was the popular kid at school, she didn't give her sister a hard time because she sat in a corner with a book at lunch. She didn't think she was better than Sophie because she was popular. No, she spent time with her after school. They were best friends. And I really liked that.

Over all this was a fantastic book. I'm recommending this to everyone. So when this book goes on the shelves you people go to the store and pick it up. Its creepy, fun, exciting, and there's that suspense that keeps you on your toes. It's nearly impossible to put down. Carly Anne West did a wonderful job with the writing. You guys enjoy this book. :)(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 25, 2013 Krista (NawandaFiles) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, arc, simon-and-schuster, netgalley-or-edelweiss, bland-characters, snoozer-scenes, did-not-meet-expectations

Beginning The Murmurings was like starting a horror movie. The anticipation was high and my expectations for some creepiness was set. Unfortunately, the payoff for the book lacked the kind of wow-factor to send it into the YA paranormal hall of fame.

My biggest issue with the book has to be the characters. Sophie and Evan are incredibly boring and they seemed to serve the plot and only the plot. They don't go much deeper than that, and I found it hard to connect with either of them. The romance a...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 26, 2013 Lisbeth Avery {Assorted Insanity} rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: scary-ya, horrible-ending, horror, 2013, better-than-i-thought-it-would-be, cover-lust, exceeds-expectations, fem-pov, guilty-pleasure, half-star, i-love-you, library, low-expectations, made-me-smile, reviewed, shouldn-t-like-but-did, that-wonderful-title, three-stars, violent-violence

Actual Rating: 3.5

It looks like I'm going to be the odd one out with this book, but not in the way you might have thought. In a surprising change of events, most of my friends did not like this book or at least, gave it a two star rating. But I did like it. I've been thinking pretty hard about this book and how I want to review and rate it. After a bit of deliberation, I've finally settled on a happy three and a half star rating.

This book isn't perfect, nor is it anywhere near perfect. It has a...more Actual Rating: 3.5

It looks like I'm going to be the odd one out with this book, but not in the way you might have thought. In a surprising change of events, most of my friends did not like this book or at least, gave it a two star rating. But I did like it. I've been thinking pretty hard about this book and how I want to review and rate it. After a bit of deliberation, I've finally settled on a happy three and a half star rating.

This book isn't perfect, nor is it anywhere near perfect. It has a lot of problems, yet it also has a lot of positive points to it. While the book takes a long time to build up, the last part of the book is more then worth the wait. The supporting characters aren't all that built up but none of them are stereotypes or jerks.

Please take a moment to read the summary again and take a good look at the cover. I'm sure that by now you have vague ideas of what the book is about. Something that involves lots of scariness and creepiness and staying up all night? Nope, sorry.

THE MURMURINGS' summary isn't exactly truthful. It promises the reader a world of paranormal creepiness. Instead, the book turned out to be more of a mild psychological horror, or more appropriately a psychological thriller. There aren't any paranormal or real horror aspects to the book till the last 100 to 150 pages. Instead, West spends her time building up the story and the atmosphere. This may not appeal to some people but personally, I really liked this.

Sophie, the main character, spends much of the book trying to figure out what exactly happened to her sister and why did she end up dead in an entirely different city - especially since she was "locked away". The book progresses very slowly here but I never felt like I wanted to drop the book.

In the second half of the book, everything changes. Here enters the evil doctors, mental institutions, torture chambers, death, and gore. This part is the main reason I loved the book to be honest. While I enjoyed the beginning parts and Sophie's struggle with insanity or what she perceived was insanity, I do agree with most people by saying that the second part of the book was the main strength.

THE MURMURINGS avoided many of the standard clichés in YA literature. There was a cute romance that didn't overshadow the plot. It was treated as more of a side plot then the main objective of the story. Sophie's inner turmoil didn't consist of "omg, who do I love?". No, instead it ran more along the lines of "am I fucking insane or what?"

Though I found THE MURMURINGS to be a pretty awesome book, I was very disappointed by the ending. I hate easy endings. The ending wasn't in itself easy but the last chapter ruined the whole ending for me. I expect that when someone walks out of such a traumatic experience to have some scarring but from what it sounded like, everything was happy/

Aside from a few problems with lying blurbs and terrible endings, I surprisingly really liked this book. While it's definitely not my favorite, it was enjoyable and exciting, with just the right amount of scariness for the book. I recommend THE MURMURINGS someone who is looking to spruce up a boring afternoon.(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 05, 2013 Debra Lobel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been venturing into Young Adult supernatural literature recently just to expand my horizons. I decided to read The Murmurings for a few reasons. First of all, I know the author. Secondly, the story is realistic in a supernatural way – making it much more of a thriller. Lastly, the typeface and layout of the book is easy on the eyes (I’m an “older” reader) and it came with a bookmark that matched the book. The last reason enhanced my reading experience beyond the words and story line.

The m...more

like · see review

Mar 11, 2013 Stormi (Lightning Book Promotions) rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book sounded so interesting and intriguing. I don't find enough suspenseful YA novels and this sounded like it could boarder on being a horror novel. To me it just fell short.

In the beginning the pacing was going fairly good and I did feel curious about what happened to Nell. Sophie feels bad about what happened to Nell because she didn't believer her when she said she heard voices, then she starts hearing the murmuring too. So now she wants to prove that something is happening and she mee...more

like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Leeanna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, for-review

I don’t usually read horror -- I don’t like being scared! -- but the summary for THE MURMURINGS caught my attention. Immediately I wanted to know why Nell committed suicide, what the voices said, and why Sophie was hearing them too. I also think the cover’s intense, with the girl staring right into my eyes.

The book starts out creepy, with Sophie seeing something in the mirror. I think everyone’s seen things, then really looked and nothing’s there, so it’s an easy way for the reader to relate to...more I don’t usually read horror -- I don’t like being scared! -- but the summary for THE MURMURINGS caught my attention. Immediately I wanted to know why Nell committed suicide, what the voices said, and why Sophie was hearing them too. I also think the cover’s intense, with the girl staring right into my eyes.

The book starts out creepy, with Sophie seeing something in the mirror. I think everyone’s seen things, then really looked and nothing’s there, so it’s an easy way for the reader to relate to what’s happening to Sophie. THE MURMURINGS is also sad, a look into a family broken by grief. I really felt for Sophie, trying to cope with Nell’s death without the help of her mother.

Nell’s death has also made Sophie an outcast at school, and I liked that she wasn’t the popular girl. I did have a bit of trouble believing the relationship that sprang up between Sophie and Evan, but Evan is one of the few male characters I’ve liked lately. He’s awkward, and unsure of himself in an endearing sort of way. Refreshingly, he’s not one of the bad boys that are so trendy in YA. Ethan reads like a real guy.

The basic story of THE MURMURINGS, without giving too much away, is that Sophie is trying to find out why Nell died, and why she heard voices. The scariness for me wasn’t actually in the voices or the things in mirrors, but in the mental institution. Now, Oakside put the eep in creepy. Dr. Keller and the rest of the staff made my skin crawl.

Spread throughout the book are passages from Nell’s diary and blog posts from Adam, an orderly at the institution. Adam’s blog posts were some of my favorite parts. They were of the “crazy dude in a tinfoil hat” variety, and I didn’t know if I could trust him or not, which added to the twists in the book. But in the end, THE MURMURINGS wasn’t as full of horror as the summary implied. It’s hard to explain why without spoiling too much, but I felt like there was a lot of focus on a supernatural element that wasn’t very scary.

I’d recommend THE MURMURINGS to other readers like me, who may not like horror stories. It would be a good way to get into the genre.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was part of the blog tour for this book.

See more of my reviews:

(less)

like · see review

Feb 13, 2013 Mandi Kaye Ottaway rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed at http://www.mandikayereads.com/archive... (2/15/13)

Holy creepy batman.

If The Ring were written as a YA novel minus the weird videotape because you’re born being able to see the creepy oily-haired girl – this is that novel.

And the creepy thing crawls out of mirrors instead of televisions.

There’s no real way to explain the plot of this book without giving away spoilers, so I’m not going to try. Just know – if you like the creep factor – you’re going to like this book.

Sometimes when auth...more

like · see review

Feb 22, 2013 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Murmurings is fantastically creepy. I am not one that normally reads creepy books, but this one sounded way to interesting to pass up. And I am so glad I decided to give it a shot. I mean seriously, just look at that cover. Has such a creepy feel to it, and I can promise you that the creepy feeling you get from the cover resonates throughout the pages of the book. I have no problem saying that this book is by far one of my favorite books with a creepy vibe. Carly did an absolutely fantastic...more The Murmurings is fantastically creepy. I am not one that normally reads creepy books, but this one sounded way to interesting to pass up. And I am so glad I decided to give it a shot. I mean seriously, just look at that cover. Has such a creepy feel to it, and I can promise you that the creepy feeling you get from the cover resonates throughout the pages of the book. I have no problem saying that this book is by far one of my favorite books with a creepy vibe. Carly did an absolutely fantastic job writing it.

I love the synopsis for this book, it doesn't even scratch the surface of the story but gives you enough to peak your interest. Once you get into the book though, you start to see how incredibly rich this book is. I thought it would be fairly straight-forward, but boy was I surprised. I have to admit it is difficult for me to talk about everything, because this book is extremely spoiler heavy. More so than most books I have read, but I will try my best. There is a lot more going on in the story than just the things revolving around Sophie and Nell that you see in the synopsis. That is a big focal point, but it doesn't really give you much to go on. Once you start getting into things like Oakside, The Takers, and other things the story gets pretty insane.

Sophie and Nell look as though they would be the main focus of the story as far as the characters go but Nell really isn't. What happened to her does have a major impact on where the plot goes, but I felt like the story was focused more around Sophie, Deb & Adam. There are a lot of pretty awesome characters in this book, and considering how spoiler heavy it is I really can't go into much detail about them all sadly. But I was truly impressed by how great they all were. Even the creepy staff at Oakside was wonderfully written.

The ending was fairly decent, I do think it could of been a little better. Especially having such an incredibly story leading up to it. I do like where everything went though, there were quite a few interesting events at the end that really keep you reading so that it always a good thing. Overall I think the book was fantastic though, not really much to complain about.

If you're looking for a creepy book to read, then you really have to pick up The Murmurings once it is out. It is a beautifully written debut book with a lot of potential. Even if you're like me and don't read many creepy books, I really think you will love this one. So at least give it a shot even if you're on the fence. I am really glad I did, and I can't wait to see what books Carly writes in the future.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 03, 2013 Autumn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, own, ya

Sophie David is lving in her dead sister Nell’s shadow.. After being sent to an institution for seeing and hearing things.. Nell runs away with an orderly, Adam.. Shortly after that Sophie’s mother recieves a phone call notifying her of her daughters death.. At which point Sophie is forced to identify the body.. Oddly enough makes the trip to Jerome Az in time to see her sister at the scene of the crime.. which is quite perplexing.. Their mother is one hot mess.. and it only gets worse from ther...more

like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Carrie Ardoin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, edelweiss, ghosts, on-my-kindle, posted-on-blog, what-a-letdown

I wanted to like this book, I was even willing to read it and scare myself. I had seen many reviews comparing the creepy creatures to that girl from The Ring. But the scares never really came. The questions did though. I finished the book and am still pretty confused about a ton of things that happened.

Sophie was bland. Evan had nothing interesting to offer at all. The way they came together seemed random and forced, and their relationship awkward. The rest of the characters weren't interesting...more

like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Gliterary Girl (Page Managed by Sara) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, ya-mystery, paranormal-ya

Reviewed by Sara O'Connor for www.Gliterarygirl.com
4 out of 5 Stars

Contains no spoilers

THE GIST: The Murmurings is a terrifyingly twisted tale about whispers and creepy ghosts that haunt your mirrors. This book had the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention, while at the same time telling a tender tale of loss and redemption. I enjoyed almost every page and although it felt a little disjointed at times, the characters were likeable and real. If you enjoy spooky YA with a dash of love...more Reviewed by Sara O'Connor for www.Gliterarygirl.com
4 out of 5 Stars

Contains no spoilers

THE GIST: The Murmurings is a terrifyingly twisted tale about whispers and creepy ghosts that haunt your mirrors. This book had the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention, while at the same time telling a tender tale of loss and redemption. I enjoyed almost every page and although it felt a little disjointed at times, the characters were likeable and real. If you enjoy spooky YA with a dash of love and a heroine who makes odd, yet strong choices The Murmurings won’t likely disappoint.

THE LOWDOWN: I began reading dark tales as a very young girl, my mother worrying about my peculiar fascination with all things scary. So when I saw the absolutely drop dead (pardon the pun) gorgeous and eerie cover, I knew this one was right up my alley. And it was, or perhaps I should say, would have been if I was a little younger. It’s not that this book wasn’t terrifying, or utterly creepy, it’s just that I’m now a desensitized adult and as a result, I’m pretty hard to scare.

The writing was solid and the authors narration, strong. I was pulled into the story right from the beginning and remained there throughout. However, I was a little disappointed with the disjointed narrative. The beginning starts off starkly different in tone from the second act. But, the progression is subtle enough that it wasn’t too distracting. There were parts of the protagonist’s social life, introduced in the beginning, that I enjoyed, yet the author chose to ignore this aspect as the story progresses. Perhaps, it was merely used as a device to make us understand the protagonists reactions to the many strange occurrences she encounters later.

Although not a love story, this book does have a sweet budding romance right in the middle of the dark grit, that plays like a glimmer of much needed hope in the midst of utter hopelessness. Conversely, the antagonists are truly sinister and the insane asylum backdrop is the perfect setting. Dark hallways, creepy mirrors, abusive orderlies and mad doctors all wreak havoc in this book. But it is more than just love and evil. This story gently touches on alcoholism, grief, suicide and mental illness. In fact, the subtext is almost more intriguing than the overtones.

If you love a good campfire tale with heart, pick this one up. It won’t scare the pants off you, but it will creep you out just enough to make you double-check your locks.

Received a copy in exchange for an honest review(less)

like · see review

Feb 25, 2013 Annabelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Just the cover of this novel is really creepy and promises the reader they are in for a scary ride. Although after reading the novel the cover really doesn’t convey what’s inside the book, for one this book is not as scary as the cover itself it.

The Murmurings follows Sophie, a teenager who just happens to hear murmurings in her ear and feels hot breath on her neck. She thinks she’s going crazy and wants to stop the madness in her mind. She knows her sister Nell heard the voices and she ended u...more Just the cover of this novel is really creepy and promises the reader they are in for a scary ride. Although after reading the novel the cover really doesn’t convey what’s inside the book, for one this book is not as scary as the cover itself it.

The Murmurings follows Sophie, a teenager who just happens to hear murmurings in her ear and feels hot breath on her neck. She thinks she’s going crazy and wants to stop the madness in her mind. She knows her sister Nell heard the voices and she ended up killing herself. Sophie doesn’t want to suffer from the same fate and knows she needs to find out more about her sisters last days to get the bigger picture. Did her sister really commit suicide or were the mysterious murmurings behind it all?

Sophie is an odd character. Yes we feel sorry for her because she’s suffering because of the murmurings but apart from that I didn’t relate to her very much at all. She was whiny and quite lazy really; she didn’t do much at all. She just drove back and forth from school, oakside institution and the little town of Jerome. And when she’s at home she complains about her mother and then wallows in her grief reading her sisters diary. Apart from that her character did do the job but there wasn’t anything else to her, she isn’t a character I will remember after reading.

Then we have Evan who came into the whole novel all too conveniently. Ok, Sophie has been at the same school for ages so why all of a sudden should this boy Evan start talking to her? Hmm and then he also has a relative who happens to hear some murmurings. I think the reader will realise that this is all happening so the novel can move swiftly on. There’s no other reason. Oh and their relationship was just so plain, there was no chemistry and gosh he annoyed me.

Nevertheless I went into this book wanting a scary spine-chilling story; I didn’t really care about the characters I just wanted to read a good scary story aimed at YA. There were some really freaky things in the novel, like the weird rotten women who comes out of the mirror after Sophie, now that was freaky. The murmuring didn’t really scare me as that’s all it was mumbling. The institution freaked me out as I personally am intrigued by them and in the novel it was interesting to see an institution that focuses on the supernatural. Leaving all normal mentally ill people to practically waste away. It was horrible in a way that it was morally wrong. Overall though this was nowhere near as scary as I would have liked. For a novel that has been marketed as a horror, it really disappoints in that category. We also get information about Takers and Seers but even now I don’t have a clue what they were trying to explain to us.

Overall The Murmurings is a readable YA Horror novel but don’t expect to be chilled to your bones. I was expecting so much more and was disappointed. If you’re looking for an average spooky story then try this but die hard horror fans will be disappointed.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 21, 2013 ExLibris_Kate rated it 2 of 5 stars

I think the first thing that grabs people about this book is the terrifying cover image, which is reminiscent of The Ring. Sophie is a girl who has lost her sister and deals with the aftermath that Nell's death has wrought on her family. Her mother has spiraled down into alcoholism and she mainly just tries to get through every day. When Sophie teams up with an acquaintance at school to try to unravel the truth behind Nell's suicide, it looked like this book would become a mystery with paranorma...more

like · see review

Apr 13, 2013 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

I really enjoyed this book; the story is interesting and it is evenly paced. I was at the edge of my seat at the climax. Sure there are some flaws in it but the story was interesting enough that I ignored most of them. There is an information dump about halfway through that initially turned me off because it ruined the suspense and spookiness. Shortly afterwards, however; the story takes a dramatic turn so I wasn't bothered that much after all. There is a paranormal aspect to this story which is...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, thriller, ya, arc, edelweiss

That cover is so freaky, you’d expect this to be one scary paranormal thriller and you’d be sort of, partly right. The Murmurings felt like it was divided into two separate sections, neither as scary as I’d hoped, but each one disturbing in its own way.

The first half of the story reads like literary realistic fiction, the second half like a fast-paced paranormal thriller and the bridge is an awkward semi-romance mystery. The first and second halves had their strong points, but when all of the p...more That cover is so freaky, you’d expect this to be one scary paranormal thriller and you’d be sort of, partly right. The Murmurings felt like it was divided into two separate sections, neither as scary as I’d hoped, but each one disturbing in its own way.

The first half of the story reads like literary realistic fiction, the second half like a fast-paced paranormal thriller and the bridge is an awkward semi-romance mystery. The first and second halves had their strong points, but when all of the pieces were strung together, this was hard to read sometimes.

Sophie and her mother have been disintegrating ever since the murder of her older sister. Nell had been a patient at a mental hospital until she ran away with a staff member, then was found dead under strange circumstances. The same murmuring voices and visual disturbances that had Nell committed to the institution have been affecting Sophie, and she’s afraid she’s going crazy just like her sister. She’s turned into an outcast at school, until out of the blue, football jock Evan starts paying attention to her.

There’s an odd, improbable romance that develops between Evan and Sophie that I’m not sure what to make of. It links the first and second halves together, but it came out of nowhere and I kept picturing the Sophie on the cover with a jock and it wasn’t working for me. I would have been happy to have them remain friends; they were good at handling the mystery and action without the rest of it. I didn’t feel like I knew enough about Evan to buy him as a boyfriend.

The second half is much faster-paced and more of a thriller. It wasn’t until this part that I really started feeling like I knew who Sophie was and how strong she’d become. Before, she was just afraid of things and hiding from what she might be; now she was actively chasing down answers and I liked her much more. Of course, she was making horrible decisions; I swear, it goes along with the scary covers. Creepy covers = girls doing things they shouldn’t for no discernible reason.

There was no shortage of potential villains and I would have been fine if it had been all of them, they were such a rotten bunch of people. I especially liked the mental institution setting, since it’s always a great place for chills and potentially evil deeds done by staff gone crazy. This was the one place where I thought there was the most potential for some really scary stuff; if it had been a movie instead of a book, this would probably be where I’d be hiding my face.

It’s difficult to give a book a single grade when it felt like it was made up of three distinctly different sections that I felt differently about. If the tone from either the first or the last sections had been used throughout the book, it would have made for easier reading. It was slower to develop, but I think I’d have liked the realistic fiction-style more, but in either one, I wish the romantic storyline had been ditched, since it was only a distraction. In the end, this may have been slow to develop and not exactly what I expected, but it did deliver a heroine that I wanted to see overcome her fears and heal, along with some chills and excitement at the end.

Review copy provided by Edelweiss for a blog tour for Itching for Books Tours

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 05, 2013 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Psychological thrillers always seem to grip me to my seat. I love stories that brings such craziness to the table.

What I enjoyed most about this book is the plot. A crazy dead sister, a sister left behind to reap what her sister has sowed. All of these elements and more hooked me into the story. I like that the plot moved at a pace that allow the reader to slowly immerse themselves in the story. Every turn of the page gave the reader more and more clues, more people coming out as to what role t...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Jasprit rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: out-2013, arc-galley, read-in-2013, ya, mystery

Me and horror books never go, scrap that me and horror anything never go. If you ever put on an horror film on I’ll be the first one out of the room. But when I came across The Murmurings, I admit I was intrigued, the cover totally creeped me out, also lately I have been tearing my way through mystery books more and really enjoying them. So I was eager to find out the mystery surrounding Sophie’s sister and what really happened to her.

Sophie’s sister Nell had been admitted to the Oakside Behavio...more Me and horror books never go, scrap that me and horror anything never go. If you ever put on an horror film on I’ll be the first one out of the room. But when I came across The Murmurings, I admit I was intrigued, the cover totally creeped me out, also lately I have been tearing my way through mystery books more and really enjoying them. So I was eager to find out the mystery surrounding Sophie’s sister and what really happened to her.

Sophie’s sister Nell had been admitted to the Oakside Behavioural institute after displaying some strange behaviour, Dr Keller from the institute deemed this as the perfect place for Nell to be at. And Sophie and her mum thought so too. But if everything was peachy there, why would Nell run off with one of the orderlies and end up dead? Sophie immediately regrets not being there for Nell when she needed her the most, so she makes it her mission to get to the bottom of the truth.

What I liked about The Murmurings was that I totally hadn’t thought about what had happened to Nell, I had some assumptions, But Carly Anne West blew these right out of the water, with the aspect she did decide to focus on. I can’t really say what it is without giving the entire plot away, but it was never something I would have considered.

Sophie was singled out at school because of everyone knowing about what had happened with her sister and everyone else assuming the same would happen to her. So it was great that Sophie found a friend in Ethan, someone she could confide in. They both soon realised they had so much in common and decided to do some investigating of their own. Their journey was one of horrific discoveries and heartache, but they both battled on to discover the truth. I admired how Sophie soldiered on, the weedy weak individual I was first led to believe that she was one that quickly disappeared. Her love and her affection for her sister came strongly through, as she would go to any extremes to get to the truth. But the one thing that bugged me about Sophie was how she went barging into situations without thinking things through and by breaking promises along the way. I understand that she wanted to bring an end to the horrible things that had happened and which took Nell away. But there were also people who cared about her, her mum was barely coping from the loss of Nell, and then she goes and immediately puts her own life at risk.

The Murmurings wasn’t as scary as I was expecting, but there were aspects that creeped me out. The concept was different from a lot of the books that I had seen out there, the only issue I had was down to pacing, it took forever for finally something major to kick off, so I welcomed the second half which was more action packed and kept me riveted until the last page. I was pleased with the way things were wrapped up, with so many unanswered questions finally being able to put to rest.

The Murmurings was a book which was very different to what I’d normally pick, but I think West did a good job in producing a novel mixed with mystery, creepiness and romance. I would certainly recommend giving it a try if you’re looking an unconventional read.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Faye (The Social Potato) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, thriller, stupid-heroes-heroines, stand-alone, supernatural, sickness, psychological, my-head-hurts, finding-oneself, drama, edelweiss, arc

The Murmurings definitely had a very good start that left me wanting for more. It was able to capture the voice of a lonely and confused girl, isolated by her peers due to the unfortunate and unwanted conditions that surround her. Her sister just died in a crazy way, her mom's an alcoholic and not able to move on and forgive herself, and everyone thinks she's a freak. Grand, right? I loved how her voice was very personal and detached at the same time, and loved it even more that it stayed consis...more The Murmurings definitely had a very good start that left me wanting for more. It was able to capture the voice of a lonely and confused girl, isolated by her peers due to the unfortunate and unwanted conditions that surround her. Her sister just died in a crazy way, her mom's an alcoholic and not able to move on and forgive herself, and everyone thinks she's a freak. Grand, right? I loved how her voice was very personal and detached at the same time, and loved it even more that it stayed consistent throughout. The way her internal narration was written was a pleasure to read.

Her impulsive approach to satisfy her curiosity, especially on what happened to her sister and what was going on in the mental institution she was placed in, unfortunately bothered me. This isn't the book's fault, though - I simply just cannot appreciate people who make decisions without thinking. For example, she knew Dr. Keller was strange, bizarre, and even dangerous, yet she just had to go to the mental institution knowing the dire consequences. Alone. That scene really bothered me because no one in their sane mind would do something like that, unless they're completely naïve. I'm aware that this must have been necessary in order to move the story, but it felt incredibly annoying knowing that the nutcases in there will find a way to contain her.

Despite my lack of appreciation towards Sophie's character as a whole, I still did like the pace of the story overall. It was slow, yes, but I believe the tensions leading to the climax and ultimately to the finale were nicely written. I was able to feel sorry for Sophie because I understood how alone she must have felt. Her mother was in her own world, her Aunt worried more about her mother than her own niece, everyone else shunned her away, and she was hearing voices to boot. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. The raw emotions dealing with this loneliness was effectively expressed, and I applaud the author for that.

However, I did feel the romance aspect to this felt unnatural. I thought she fell in love with Evan a little too quickly for my liking, thus making it seem a bit forced and unnatural. I definitely think making them as friends first would've worked better, and the romance later on. (less)

like · see review

Mar 05, 2013 Tabitha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: covers-i-love, recommended-to-me, borrowed-first-reads, creepy, ghosts, paranormal, want-to-own-physical-copy, borrowed-arc

Sophie David’s life is far from normal. A nonexistent father, an alcoholic mother, and a dead sister, she’s pretty much alone these days. So when she starts hearing the same noises and seeing the same things that made her mother have her sister committed, she decides to buckle down and refuses to tell anyone. But soon the voices refuse to be ignored and Sophie is in a world of danger that Nell (her sister) died to protect her from.

I quite enjoyed this novel. The tension/romance between Evan and...more Sophie David’s life is far from normal. A nonexistent father, an alcoholic mother, and a dead sister, she’s pretty much alone these days. So when she starts hearing the same noises and seeing the same things that made her mother have her sister committed, she decides to buckle down and refuses to tell anyone. But soon the voices refuse to be ignored and Sophie is in a world of danger that Nell (her sister) died to protect her from.

I quite enjoyed this novel. The tension/romance between Evan and Sophie was adorable, the storyline was just intriguing enough to keep me guess, and the spine tingling creep factor that I loved in Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake was also pretty prevalent. Sophie is a stubborn girl just trying to make it through. After Nell’s death, her mom falls apart, quits working and drinks all day. Most days, she doesn’t even speak to Sophie and yet Sophie still gets up every morning and goes to school even though she knows her mom wouldn’t notice if she didn’t.

I was a little suspicious of Evan at first. He seemed to show up at perfect time to go with Sophie to the psychiatric facility and seemed altogether too nice and accepting. But after a few chapters, I learned to trust him. He’s got his own demons chasing him and he’s just looking for someone to help him figure it all out, just like Sophie.

The thing I really enjoyed about this was the creepiness. YA doesn’t have many novels that can send chills down your spine (or if it does, I haven’t read many) and though I normally avoid horror movies, I am somewhat attracted to it in writing. I know, it doesn’t make sense, but there it is. My only real complaint about this novel was that it was a mite too predictable. I didn’t see all of it coming, but I did know (view spoiler).

I think that anyone who enjoyed Anna Dressed In Blood will also enjoy this. It’s a really enjoyable and fun read!
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 05, 2013 Julianne rated it 2 of 5 stars

I will start this review by saying "the proper term is COULDN'T have cared less." Anyone claiming to be a published author should know that.

I admit, "scary" books aren't my genre. But I tried to give this one an honest shot. Sadly, I found it cheesy, predictable, and rather non-nonsensical.

(view spoiler)...more

like · see review

Feb 23, 2013 Siobhan rated it 3 of 5 stars

First of all I would like to thank Simon Pulse for allowing me to review this book for this blog tour. Having said that, I will say that this book was creepy from the moment I started reading it. Carly has a way of writing a character so well that you cannot stop reading. Sophie was damaged, broken and afraid. The voices in her head made Sophie that much more interesting because she was unreliable. Throughout the entire book you never knew if she was insane or if the voices in her head were some...more

like · see review

May 17, 2013 Imani rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a great story. There isn't a lot of books that are psychological, the only other one is The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. Which is Ah-mazaing!

Sophie's older sister heard voices in her ear, which lead her to kill herself. Or so Sophie thinks.

Now, Sophie starts to hear those same murmurings in her ear. She knows Nell's doctor knows more than he's letting anyone know. As Sophie tries to piece together her sister's last days, she finds she's in more danger and could suffer the...more

like · see review

title link	preview: The Murmurings
avg rating	preview: The Murmurings Goodreads rating: 3.57 (294 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260536-the-murmurings?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340201968l/13260536.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260536-the-murmurings?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Murmurings by Carly Anne West[/url]

The Murmurings

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Carly Anne West

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Murmurings

The Murmurings

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (2)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Carly Anne West

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Murmurings

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)