The Whistling

The most chilling and spine-tingling ghost story you'll read this year

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The Whistling

By: Rebecca Netley

Narrated by: Lois Chimimba

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Brought to you by Penguin.

WINNER OF THE EXETER NOVEL PRIZE

Alone in the world, Elspeth Swansome has taken the position of nanny to a family on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea.

Her charge, Mary, is a strange child. Distracted and secretive, she hasn't uttered a word since the sudden death of her twin, William - just days after their former nanny disappeared.

With her charge defiantly silent, Elspeth turns to the islanders. But no one will speak of what happened to William.

Just as no one can explain the hypnotic lullabies sung in empty corridors.

Nor the strange dolls that appear in abandoned rooms.

Nor the faint whistling that comes in the night . . .

As winter draws in and passage to the mainland becomes impossible, Elspeth finds herself trapped.

But is this house haunted by the ghosts of the past?

OR THE SECRETS OF THE LIVING..?

Chilling, twisty and emotionally gripping, The Whistling is an atmospheric page-turner with shades of the classics, yet a unique character of its own. Perfect for fans of Susan Hill and Laura Purcell.

© Rebecca Netley 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Rebecca NetleyLois ChimimbaMichael Joseph

Ghosts

Horror

Mystery

Suspense

Thriller & Suspense

Women Sleuths

Haunted

Scary

Paranormal

Exciting

Fiction

Highlander

Ghosts Horror Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Haunted Scary Paranormal Exciting Fiction Highlander

Critic reviews

Assured debut . . . This wonderfully atmospheric read offers both a satisfying puzzle and some genuinely eery moments

If you're looking for a chilling tale as we head towards Halloween, you've found it . . . It's not easy to pull off a genuinely unsettling ghost story, but this evocative mystery succeeds beautifully

Gripping, chilling and very, very satisfying

A perfectly conjured setting and an unfolding mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end . . . Atmospheric and eerie, it will chill you to the bone (Anita Frank, author of The Lost Ones)

A terrific, all-absorbing read. A wonderfully eerie haunted house set-up is given new life by brilliant, atmospheric writing, and by those rare things in any ghost story: real heart and feeling. I loved it! (Gytha Lodge, Sunday Times bestselling author)

While The Whistling is an intricately plotted ghost story, it is also a beautifully poignant study of grief that kept me guessing right to its satisfying end. A must read! (Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora)

Dripping in gothic melodrama, this chilling mystery is the perfect read for a cold winter's night

A genuinely creepy book with a gripping mystery at its heart. For fans of Laura Purcell and gothic historical fiction, this is a must!

If you love haunted house ghost tales that are as psychological as they are supernatural, then you'll love Rebecca Netley's atmospheric debut

A beautifully written and intricate gothic tale with an atmospheric setting

Most relevant

Rebecca Netleys writing is incredibly descriptive, which is perfect for a book of this nature. The descriptions allow you to feel like you're actually there and sets the atmosphere. I could almost feel the cold rain on my face and fierce wind blowing through my bones. Lois Chimimba also did an outstanding job with the narration.

Our main character Elspeth has has a traumatic time and needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh. She takes a job to be a nanny in Skelthsea, a tiny island in Scotland. When the boat arrives at Skelthsea, Elspeth gets the first glimpse of what is to be her new home. Iskar is the largest house on the island and has been in the family for many years. It's old creaky floor boards, thread bare carpet and dimly lit rooms were not quite what Elspeth had expected. But she is eager to meet Mary, the little girl who she will be spending most of her time at Iskar taking care of. But it soon becomes clear that all is not well with Mary. After losing her twin brother the girl is understandably grieving but is that all that haunts her?!? They soon become close but can Mary be trusted. Or is there someone else that Elspeth should be worried about....

I listened to this in 2 sittings, wrapped up under a blanket, with just a candle for light. It really is the perfect read for this time of year, it has all you want in an autumn read, especially on the lead up to Halloween. I loved the dark, gothic vibes of the old house and the island itself. And the character building is fantastic, you really get to know them and become fond of (most) of them, even if you are unsure who is good and who is bad. It's hard to believe that this is Rebecca Netleys debut novel, I will be patiently anticipating her next release. I think we can expect more great things to come.