I am no longer interested in reviewing this book and I will not be sending a review. I no longer think this book is for me.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an e-copy of Whisper Cottage for my honest review.

Whisper Cottage by Anne Wyn Clark is a psychological thriller that is full of surprises, twists, and turns. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, Whisper Cottage will not disappoint.

Whisper Cottage is full of surprises that you are not expecting. I am amazed that this is a debut novel for this author as it is so well written. It’s spooky and the perfect read for when you want a really good mystery. It’s difficult to express all of the things that readers will encounter in the book, but suffice to say that it will certainly leave you satisfied.

I gave this 5 Stars and definitely look forward to reading more by Anne Wyn Clark!

This,at times gothic tale opens with a chilling chapter that was set in 1964, then the story slips to in time to 2012 where we are introduced to our main characters Stina (I loved that name) and her fiance Jack. We follow their story as Stina discovers that she is pregnant, they get married and decide to move away from Birmingham to Wisteria Cottage which is situated in the picturesque village of Avoncote. With their two year old Border Collie Jobie completing their tiny family, life was good but Stina couldn't help feeling that things were just too good to be true.

The building adjoining their new home was called Rose Cottage and was owned by Mrs Marley, a elderly widower who's only visitor appeared to be odd job Bob. As time passed and Stina became friendly with some of the villagers, she learned that they didn't like Mrs Marley, some even called her a witch. Stina and Jack felt sorry for their elderly neighbour, yes, her moods were unpredictable, she had some unusual beliefs and a battered - looking crow had been visiting her for years but she had been nothing but welcoming and helpful towards the couple since they had moved into their cottage.

But then, strange things started happening, people came down with unexpected and sudden ailments, someone Stina was very close to died under mysterious circumstances and Stina kept seeing a unknown man in Mrs Marley's back garden. Why did it appear that Stina was the only person who could see him? Was he a ghost or was lack of sleep playing with her mind and causing her to hallucinate? Could she possibly have inherited her mother's mental health issues? Or was Stina not the only person who couldn't escape events from the past?

Stina was a complex character, a relatable mix of conflicting emotions, pregnancy hormones and sleep deprivation. I loved how open minded she was about the possible existence of ghosts unlike Jack with his analytical and dismissive attitude. I liked how she remained loyal to Mrs Marley despite the opinions of the villagers and her own occasional doubts about her elderly neighbour. Stina certainly had a caring side to her character which was probably due to her own tragic backstory but as the story unfolded it also became apparent that she was hiding something from her past. I really liked Stina's fiercely loyal best friend Reggie, she was a fantastic character who was also harbouring secrets of her own.

Mrs Marley came across as a kindly but at times stalker like old lady who had been unjustly and unkindly ostracized by the villagers who appeared to be trapped in a time warp. The May Day celebrations reminded me of the creepy scene from iconic and atmospheric 1970s series The Children Of The Stones as did the comments that the villager made to Stina. The elderly lady was a realistic and at times creepy individual but was she actually a witch or just a lonely old lady with a dark and tragic past?

Whisper Cottage is a mesmerising, extremely well written blend of a number of genre's with a gothic and haunting plot that contains a dark, unexpected twist. I will be honest and admit that the story took a while to draw me in but once it did grab my attention, I found myself captivated and didn't want to put my kindle down. I find it difficult to believe that this book is this author's debut psychological thriller and I look forward to reading many more of her books in the future

With an air of eeriness, Whisper Cottage grabs hold of you and with a slow burn, creates an atmosphere of unease. I would classify this as a clever mystery, with interesting characters and an unexpected twist. Definitely worth a read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for my ARC.

This is a debut novel by an author that you can see is going to be a success. The book was full of twists and turns, and revelations galore. It was well written, and I will read more by her in future.

Thank you so much to Rachel's Random Resources for my spot on the Whisper Cottage blog tour. And to Netgalley and Avon for my gifted digital copy.

Let me ask you something. How well do you know the people who live next door to you? Myself I know my neighbours well, I have lived in this town all my life so I should know them. Unlike Stina and Jack who have just moved to a rural cottage and are only just finding their feet. But Mrs Barley their new next door neighbour is friendly and is perfect for them. Or is she?

As time goes on small things start to happen and Stina becomes weary. On top of that the other residents seem to be cagey when talk turns to Mrs Barley. What is the story behind her?

Whisper Cottage is a slow burning mystery. Perfect for new readers to the genre. I personally didn't like the character of Stina, sometimes you just don't gel with a character 🙈 however Mrs Barley is great and if anything I wanted more from her.

I enjoyed delving into the mystery and rumours behind Mrs Barley concocting my own theories and being completely wrong. 😀

A spine-chilling Gothic chiller so terrifying it will have you sleeping with the lights on for weeks, Anne Wyn Clark’s Whisper Cottage is a creepy rollercoaster ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Stina and Jack are in desperate need of a fresh start and moving to an old rural cottage seems like the answer to all of their prayers. Their new home is far from perfect and it looks rundown when compared to their neighbour’s, but Stina and Jack refuse to be deterred by all the work they have to do and vow to turn their house into a home. Luckily for them, the kindly Mrs Barley seems keen to do her utmost to help them settle into their new home. Stina and Jack are touched by her generosity and warm heart, but can they trust Mrs Barley? Or have they made a huge mistake letting her into their home?

Stina’s suspicions increase when she sees a suspicious figure in the widow’s garden. As she begins hearing strange noises in the night and her entire life begins to unravel, Stina begins to feel as if she is losing all control. With whispers in the village about Mrs Barley only serving to intensify Stina’s concerns, she finds herself wondering whether there was some sinister reason behind their neighbour’s generosity and just what dark and twisted secrets she is hiding in her picture-perfect home.

Will Stina and Jack end up regretting their move to the country? Will Mrs Barley’s secrets ever come to light? Or will this terrifying nightmare they found themselves trapped in end up jeopardising their entire future?

Anne Wyn Clark will make you jump out of your skin with her terrifying debut novel Whisper Cottage. Guaranteed to send many a shiver racing down your spine, this creepy nerve-jangling thriller doesn’t let up and will have you eagerly turning the pages desperate to find out what is going to happen next.

With Halloween just around the corner, readers looking for a spooky and eerie read that will leave them cowering behind the sofa, need to add Anne Wyn Clark’s Whisper Cottage to the very top of their must-read list.

Stina and Jack move into Wisteria Cottage in an idyllic rural village where they are hoping to make a new start and with a baby on the way their life appears complete. Living next door to them is Mrs Barley, an elderly widow, who is something of an enigma but who is really very kind to her new neighbours. For a while Stina and Jack disregard the rumours which abound in the village that Mrs Barley is something of an oddity, however, when strange things start to happen, the atmosphere in Wisteria Cottage starts to become very tense indeed.

Whisper Cottage has a nice sense of mystery and there is a creepiness to the narrative which edges along quite slowly which I think only adds to the tension. The author maintains this air of suspicion throughout the story and there’s a creepy sense of unease which lasts until the end which pulls quite a punch. Mrs Barley is an interesting character and she definitely makes an impact whenever she appears in the story, however, she keeps her secrets close and as Stina and Jack discover, some secrets are better left hidden.

Whisper Cottage is an interesting debut novel with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing

I really enjoyed this read! I thought I had the story figured out at one point but I was very wrong!

The story was well-written and the characters well developed. It was a dark and twisty read and had a very shocking and unexpected ending.

If you like twisty, suspense-filled thrillers – I would highly recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Anne Wyn Clark for the opportunity to review this ARC. This review and all opinions are my own.

A brilliantly creepy, well-written book that I couldn't put down, once I'd started reading, despite the slightly claustrophobic feel and hints of witchcraft! The ending wasn't what I was expecting, which doesn't happen often, and I loved the build up of tension and suspicion throughout. Tightly plotted with lots of twists, I would highly recommend Whisper Cottage.

5 Word Review: Neighbours, mystery, chilling, secrets, rumours.

I feel like I should have guessed from the cover and the description, but wow this was dark. And I loved every moment.

I thought that Stina was pretty standoffish, and I have to admit that I didn't like her that much. But for me that lent itself so well to the story and for all I couldn't see myself being friend with her if she was real, I was so invested in her story.

The setting is exquisite. The small, claustrophobic village feels like it's bearing down on you as you read. It feels very isolated even despite (or because of) Mrs Barley next door. I was never quite sure of myself, and at times the narrator felt very much unreliable because of what she thought was happening, and yet I was utterly compelled to believe her at all times.

I thought that Whisper Cottage was so clever in how it built the atmosphere. It's slow and subtle, and all the more chilling for it, and it feels really Gothic. This book will keep you firmly in its grip, you will not be able to put it down, and the twists will absolutely take you by surprise. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat pretty much the whole time. I loved the mystery and how it was so slowly unravelled. It kept me guessing until the end.

Whisper Cottage took my by surprise, and I can't wait to read more by Anne Wyn Clark.

If there’s one thing that I like doing it’s discovering new authors and Anne Wyn Clark is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘Whisper Cottage’ and it certainly sounded like the slightly dark and creepy story that I particularly enjoy. I couldn’t want to start reading and so without further ado, I grabbed a copy of the book, grabbed my cup of tea and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Whisper Cottage’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me a little while to get into this story but that has more to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read the book and I was finding it difficult to concentrate than anything else. However, once I got into the story that was it and I was away as the saying goes. I had my own suspicions as to how the story was going to develop so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right path or if I had wandered down the wrong track entirely. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading several chapters and an hour later. I found ‘Whisper Cottage’ to be a gripping and creepy read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Whisper Cottage’ is well written. I love the way in which the author grabbed my attention from the start and drew me into the story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly steady pace. As the book continued, the story gathered momentum before ending in a tense conclusion. Anne has created a tightly plotted story with several twists and turns along the way. I can’t say that I especially warmed to any of the characters but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Anne’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short and overall, I did enjoy reading ‘Whisper Cottage’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Anne’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

An easy read with hints of spookiness which didn’t really come to any fruition. I did enjoy the book but would’ve liked more character development especially with Jack. The twist at the end did don’t creep up on you but was just told very suddenly that it didn’t seem to fit with the story. The male character who kept being seen throughout the tale just disappeared which didn’t seem realistic. BUT I really did look forward to reading each chapter.

Avoncote - 2012

Stina and Jack have moved to Avoncote, a perfect English town. They have purchased a little cottage with a thatched roof like many of the other cottages around. Unfortunately, it had been rented for some years so the garden and inside of the cottage need some work. Stina has just discovered that she is pregnant and she and Jack are thrilled. Jack is a veterinarian and Stina writes articles for magazines.

Next door to them is Rose Cottage inhabited by the elderly widow, Mrs. Barley. Her home and garden are just beautiful and well cared for. Even though Stina and Jack are warned about the woman, they find her very kind. She brings them cakes and is quite helpful. Others say she is mean and they think she may be a witch.

Stina is having some difficulties with her pregnancy and Jack thinks that some of the noises she says she hears and the stranger who appears in Mrs. Barley’s garden is just her imagination. But is it?

This book is chock full of surprises that the reader is not expecting. I am amazed that this is a debut novel for the author as it is so well written. It’s spooky and the perfect read for when you want a really good mystery. It’s difficult to express all of the things that readers will encounter in the book, but suffice to say that it will certainly leave you satisfied.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very atmospheric and I did wander if there was something very odd going on next door in Mrs barleys House but after getting to the end I felt very sorry for her and how her life panned out and that she didn't quite get a happy ending but at least she found some friends in stina and Jack who tried to take care of her.

The opening chapter of this story takes the reader back to 1964 and a domestic scene, relatable yet with sinister implications. Time moves forward to 2012 when Stina and her partner move into Whisper Cottage. Stina's unplanned pregnancy, the catalyst for the country move. Immediately there are echoes with the book's beginning, and you wonder if they too will feel the pressures of raising a young child.

This is an atmospheric story with hints of supernatural events and the possibility of mental health issues for the young expectant mother. Stina is an unreliable protagonist. The reader is never sure if she sees what she thinks she does. The villagers' archaic reaction to Stina's neighbour is complex, disturbing and believable.

The intricate world-building slows the pace but is integral to the story's authenticity. The plot twists are impactful. This is an intriguing gothic style mystery with hints of domestic noir and psychological suspense.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I don't agree with the classification of this novel as psychological suspense. Rather it is a haunting somewhat dark and creepy mystery. Jack and Stina, newly married and expecting their first child, move to the quaint English village of Avoncote to be near Jack's veterinary practice. It seems like an ideal place to raise a child. They move into a semi-detached fixer-upper cottage. Their neighbor Mrs Barley is very friendly and seems to be the ideal neighbor. Why do the other villagers not like her? Who is the strange man Stina sees lurking in her yard but whom Mrs Barley denies any knowledge of? Is Stina losing her mind? The author does an excellent describing the village with just enough creepy undertones to ratchet up the suspense. There are hints of witchcraft and things that go bump in the night. The story builds a little slowly at first to a conclusion with a stunning secret that shocks the entire village. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this enjoyable book in exchange for a review.

When Stina and Jack move in next door to Mrs Barley, at first they think that she is a nice old lady. Mrs Barley is a bit of a strange one with her pagan beliefs and other idiosyncrasies, but they think she is harmless enough and become quite friendly with her. However they are in the minority in the village, with everyone else viewing her with suspicion and believing there is something "not quite right" about her - and when strange things start happening, Stina starts wondering if perhaps there might be something in it after all.

I enjoyed this story - although I did have to wonder at some of Stina's actions (namely if she had her doubts about Mrs Barley, why did she allow her to look after her baby?) It was eerie and mysterious without being overly sensational.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This was a creepy read as it built up the tension. Who or what was Mrs Barley - a kindly old neighbour or the local witch the villagers painted her to be? What was the prologue about? Some of the revelations I had guessed, others were a surprise, but nothing was a gasp out loud kind of shock. It did raise the question of how well we really know someone, and what secrets can be hiding between husband and wife and neighbours and friends. #netgalley #whispercottage

Description 🔖

Stina and Jack have had enough of city life and move to a rural cottage in Avoncote in search of a more peaceful and serene life. The cottage needs some work, especially when compared to their widowed neighbour’s. But Mrs Barley doesn’t judge them and in fact is very welcoming and friendly.

Stina starts to become unnerved when she repeatedly sees a strange man in Mrs Barley’s garden, but nobody else seems to be around whenever she spots him. When she starts to hear weird noises during the night from the cottage next door she starts to question if Mrs Barley is as friendly as she seems. All of the other villagers appear to dislike her and when all of this is put together, Stina worries whether or not Mrs Barley can or cannot be trusted.

General Thoughts 🤔

Throughout this book I had no idea where the story was going to go. I knew that it was a thriller but there were times when I started to think that I was mistaken and it was actually a horror. I completely understand why Stina got so spooked by the cottage next door because I would have been the same. Living in an old property is lovely but what you don’t know is all of the secrets that are held within the walls. I liked that Stina brought her own secrets with her to add into the mix.

Characters 👭👬👫

If Mrs Barley was my neighbour, I’d have a problem on my hands. She was so creepy and strange I don’t think I could have been as polite as Stina and Jack were. On top of that, she was downright rude a lot of the time and that’s not something I think I’d have been able to bite my tongue about. Having finished the book I can see why Mrs Barley was the way she was; sometimes people’s secrets get the better of them and alter their entire life.

I have mixed opinions about Stina. There were times when I felt a huge amount of empathy for her as I think she was made to feel like she was losing her mind a little bit. Not necessarily anyone’s fault. There were other times I wanted to shake her and tell her to wise up a bit. All of the people who had lived near to Mrs Barley for a lot longer than her gave her lots of warning signs, but she chose to ignore them.

Writing Style ✍️

I liked that this book had a linear timeline and was told from just Stina’s perspective. Don’t get me wrong I love the direct opposite of that but it was nice to read a book and just follow along with the story simply.

I would have liked to have gone a bit deeper into the characters. Although we learnt some of the history, I would have liked to have known more. Especially Mrs Barley as a lot of her history came out right at the end. I appreciate it was part of the story unravelling, but I felt like I would have liked to have known a bit more about her background.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖️

I enjoyed reading this book and got through it really quickly as once I got into it, everything flowed really easily and it was a gripping story to follow. I half wish I’d left this book for the weekend as it would have been a good Sunday afternoon read to get through in one sitting. Overall I thought this was a pleasant read, with just enough tension to keep me interested.