Spoiler Discussion - Main Read (Feb 20) - The Whisper Man, by Alex North

[Bridget]

I loved this book in its entirety, from the dysfunctional father/son relationships and the characters to the storytelling and the ending.

Frank and Francis (the scariest father and son), Pete and Tom, and finally Tom and Jake. All have emotionally related issues to contend with as well inner demons to overcome (the former didn’t achieve it, Pete did his best and Tom is still trying.)

The story is told from the perspectives of 5 main characters: Pete, Jake Kennedy, DI Amanda Beck, Tom Kennedy, and the original Whisper Man.
Pete is lonely, finds the bottle hard to resist, gets frustrated, directs his anger inwards, suffers from low self-esteem because of his father. Jake, too is lonely, bright, advanced for his years, grieving, imaginative, secretive, has an awareness of others, beyond his years. DI Amanda Beck is efficient and hard working, doesn't believe in guilt. Tom Kennedy, a novelist who is struggling with his raw grief while trying to be a single father to his son, lacks conviction. The Whisper Man, a man of damaged psyche, deranged, nonchalant and had a traumatic childhood. He managed to always be in control, despite being the one in prison.

The house was virtually a character with its own identity and I had half-expected that Mrs Shearing (the previous owner) to play a greater part in the story, although to some extent she did, given that it had been her childhood home then later, her own. I didn't see it coming that Pete was Tom's father. Whatever clues there were, were so subtle that I missed them. I loved the part that Karen played in the story, but was vexed that she failed to mention her occupation to Tom from the beginning of their bonding. I found it interesting that Tom started referring to Pete as his father and not DI Willis, almost immediately.

The pace was so fast that I had to keep stopping to process what I had just read! It is very well written and it drew me in, making me want to read it word for word. No speed-reading here! As for the ending, there was an abundance of hints given, but I couldn’t guess it and got a shock when the twist was realised. I adored the action of it.

Some have mentioned The Whisper Man as being akin to books by different authors (one in particular), but I would not make those comparisons myself, though I understand it. To me, The Whisper Man is so good that it owns itself and it isn't 'the next' [add author] but it is the first Alex North. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

[Erunyauve]

I was quite surprised, too, that Pete was Tom's father, though in retrospect, it fit. I'd figured out that the mother was the little girl just ahead of Tom, and I was always suspicious that Frank's son would turn out to be the culprit (though by no means convinced - I was half-afraid, given the prologue, that it would be Tom, and I hadn't entirely ruled out Pete). I did like the way North left breadcrumbs everywhere - he did a nice job laying the foundations without revealing anything too soon.

[Beth]

What didn’t work for me was the idea that a parent with a child with obvious issues (talking to imaginary people, seeing imaginary people, social isolation, communication issues) would not have sought professional intervention for said child.

[Erunyauve]

Beth wrote: "What didn’t work for me was the idea that a parent with a child with obvious issues (talking to imaginary people, seeing imaginary people, social isolation, communication issues) would not have sou..."

Yes, I did wonder about that. I think Tom was reluctant to touch the imaginary friend bit, and felt that his wife would have said it was only 'Jake being Jake', but the communication and grief issues were obvious candidates for family counselling.

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think that was it - Tom felt as if he should have been able to cope with it, that Rebecca would have known how to handle it, and to seek help would be letting her down and admitting his failure. (Of course, he's got his own issue, depression, which tends to run the mind in this sort of trap.)

Nonetheless, it does create something of a plot hole that it's never even mentioned as a possibility.