I was delighted to be invited along on the blog tour for Elizabeth Brooks' The Whispering House. Published on 6th August in hardback by Doubleday, it was Elizabeth's description of the origins of the story which interested me, immediately.
Elizabeth Brooks writes:
“I began with the idea of two sisters whose stories echo one
another’s - they fall in love with the same place, the same man, the same dream
of an idyllic bohemian life - but the first sister dies and the second
survives. As the middle one of three sisters, I am fascinated by sibling
relationships. My older sister, Rachel, committed suicide when she was 28. The
circumstances were nothing like those described in The Whispering House, but
obviously there were aspects of that experience that I drew on.
I am also very drawn to books about big, creepy houses…the
genesis of Byrne Hall was Greenway, Agatha Christie’s house near Dartmouth in
Devon”
Freya Lyell is struggling to move on from her sister
Stella’s suicide five years ago. Visiting the bewitching Byrne Hall, only a few
miles from the scene of the tragedy, she discovers a portrait of Stella – a
portrait she had no idea existed, in a house Stella never set foot in. Or so
she thought.
Driven to find out more about her sister’s secrets, Freya is
drawn into the world of Byrne Hall and its owners: charismatic artist Cory and
his sinister, watchful mother. But as Freya’s relationship with Cory crosses
the line into obsession, the darkness behind the locked doors of Byrne Hall
threatens to spill out.
My Thoughts
This mystery will not disappoint. It has atmosphere, changes in timeline, strange characters who you will not be able to second guess and an intriguing mystery at the heart. Much of the plot is character driven and there is a terrible fascination in seeing Freya become drawn further and further into the mire. Byrne House is beautifully evoked. Standing proud, looking out sea, it is seen by some as the ideal wedding venue, but by others as an inherently evil place. You just know that its facade hides some secrets.
I enjoy a book with literary allusions and for me, this one has hints of the gothic and the Madwoman in the Attic. The iso;ation and seclusion gives it the setting of many a Christie crime novel. You just know, all is not well. Freya's family dynamic is not straightforward. All I can say is thank heavens for Tom! There is a cold detachment in Freya's father on the surface and a need to control. Of course, he is not the only character to have those traits. Highly recommended.
In short: Sinister and beguiling.
About the Author
ELIZABETH BROOKS grew up in Chester, and read Classics at
Cambridge.
Her debut novel CALL
OF THE CURLEW was shortlisted for the Waverton Good Reads award. The setting
for her new novel, THE WHISPERING HOUSE, is a manor house named Byrne Hall and
is inspired by the home of Agatha Christie. It is full of dark corners and old
portraits that carry untold stories of their subjects.
Elizabeth Brooks lives on the Isle of Man with her husband
and children.
You can follow Elizabeth here: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Book link: Amazon UK
Thanks to Elizabeth Brooks, Doubleday and Isabella Gaffari Parker for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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