The Whispering Sea

by Howard Goldsmith

After discovering the diary of a nineteenth-century suicide victim, two children are drawn into a struggle between the restless spirits inhabiting an old house by the sea.

131 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Born in 1943

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Jim Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in 1981 as a fourth grader. It was so gripping a tale I bought a couple versions when I taught 4th grade. I had parents tell me that their kiddo finally connected to reading after this book. It was the same experience I had. My 9 year old daughter just read it and loved it. She wants there to be a sequel!

[BirdiesBookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was FUN! Fun in a creepy kind of way. Brought me back to the horror books I loved as a kid.

[Ms_Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This creepy little tale is truly my favorite childhood book. I was around 7 years old when I found the melancholy battered copy tucked between colorful, shiny, kid friendly novels in a used bookstore. The second I touched it though I knew it would be coming home with me. I read it in one heart pounding wide eyed night under the covers when every other soul in the house was asleep. A small family, summer home, two bored children, the sea, secret passages, and of course Lucinda. I hope you or yours love it as the nostalgic freaky little gem of a ghost story that it is!

[Anna Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5?

"Without conscious design, our family clung together, forming a fragile barrier against the unknown and the unthinkable."

I was excited for this one based on a recommendation I found elsewhere, and while there were a few creepy elements, it went off the rails into over-the-top silliness about halfway through, which washed away the creepiness built up in the beginning of the story.

It's a short, quick read though--something to pass the time in an afternoon. I don't feel like I wasted my time by reading it, but, just wasn't the atmospheric, creepy little horror story I thought it'd be.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend in 4th grade found this book in a box of old books at her grandma's house. For some reason she read it, told me it was great and had me read it. I loved it!! We read and re-read this book so many times. It's such a great ghost story :)

[Nnaydolem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when i was young, but i absolutely loved it. my first sort of ghost story, about a girl who died and she was horrid and she takes over the body of a girl and haunts a family. my prequel to supernatural i guess. I found it as it is no longer in print and bought it! :)