Whisper in the Dark
by Robert Gregory Browne

Release Date: 9th May 2008
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 978 1 4050 9079 7
RRP: £16.99

Average Customer Rating:

(5.0 based on 1 rating)

An unmissable new thriller from one of America's hottest new talents

Whisper in the Dark is a foreboding psychological police thriller with some serious differences. The psychology and tension actually work, the thriller scenes do not revel in the usual blood and gore and the police are not nearly as anally retentive over telling you, dear reader, all about the ins and outs of how to capture a killer or be a cop. In fact, Browne’s novel is so far removed from the usual buffet on offer, that it sends the senses into overdrive as they gorge on pure, simple fiction.

Do not, however, confuse pure, simple fiction to mean pure, simple plot. Oh no. That would neither be fair nor accurate. Whisper in the Dark is a work of depth, insight and an understanding of the inner workings of the disturbed mind. It also explores the vast array of humanity – from severely deranged serial killer, Vincent – to crazed old southerner spouting stories about “the Rhythm” and how it will get you in the end. In fact, a lot of the plot aligns itself with a belief in the Rhythm and how it can possess people, change them, bend them to its will and force its own need to rectify an imbalance on the world. A belief that is spin-tinglingly off and made so easily believable, one would be forgiven for having nightmares about it.

Tolan is a psychiatrist. His beloved wife is believed to have been murdered by the serial killer, nicknamed ‘Van Gogh’ (because he severs the ear off his victims). But when a street woman is hauled into Baycliffe hospital after attempting to stab a cabbie whilst being completely naked and covered in blood; Tolan’s already disturbed life takes a drastic turn for the worse. You will ask yourself – is Tolan the serial killer? You will decide he cannot be. In the end, you will be desperate to know the truth.

I simply cannot fault this book and that is a rarity as I like to give an even appraisal of all our books. It is well written with an effectively taut prose. The suspense is dutifully filled up to overload and with the more exquisite twist, that will leave you simmering with delight. The characters are well drawn and Blackburn (the cop) is utterly convincing as a male chauvinistic elephant of a man... (I swear if he got any more knocks, he’d be wishing he was dead). And the originality of the plotline is just superb. This is a stunning novel where you will hang upside down, round the twist and on the edge of your seat. Magnificent!

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23 November 2010: Anonymous wrote:
This book was 1 of the best by far that I've read. I couldn't put it down, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. From start to finish a totally riveting read.