The influence of nature vs nurture has been a long debated subject and this book brings this to life again.

I enjoyed reading the story and in particular like the portal of the character of Mrs Barley.

However in parts I did feel it lacked action as if it was building up to a bigger moments that never seemed to materialise it lacked that va va voom!

This was a very well written book. The plot was very enticing and I couldn't put the book down. This was a new to me author and I will definitely try another book by this author. Loved the cover.

Whisper Cottage is a book I read over the span of a rainy weekend.

I normally struggle with putting away what I am reading, since I easily get drawn into my stories. Whisper Cottage however was not able to hold my attention, and at times I did not feel like finishing it.

Whisper Cottage is a psychological suspense novel by Anne Wyn Clark.

The narration starts with a chilling prologue which is happening in 1964 in Avoncote. The main story set in 2012 revolves around Stina, and Jack a young couple who move to Avoncote to start afresh when Jack gets a lucrative job offer.

Avoncote, a sleepy village in Warwickshire countryside, seems to be the perfect place for the family to settle down. Wisteria Cottage, their new home is a bit run-down as compared to the Rose Cottage adjoining theirs. Mrs. Bailey, the owner, is an old widow living alone. She is quite infamous in the village, as the residents distrust her and suspect her of indulging in witchcraft, but Stina and Jack don’t let their opinions mar their views about the old lady. However, a couple of stray incidents make Stina wary about her neighbor who is otherwise friendly with them.

I have not read Clark’s stories before, and picked up this book because of the cover and the description. It seemed to be a racy suspenseful read, and it piqued my curiosity. The author has done an amazing job with the setting. The idyllic village of Avoncote, and its residents are brought out well. There are a lot of major and minor characters; a couple of them fairly well developed. Jack, a doctor, is a supportive husband. Stina is an interesting character and has skeletons in her closet, which even her husband isn’t aware of. Mrs. Bailey is the strangest of them all. She has many secrets to hide.

But that’s as far as I liked anything about the book.
Clark builds a suspenseful environment with ease. The presence of strange dolls, hints of paranormal presence, and the suspicious characterization of Mrs. Bailey held me glued, as I wanted to know where it was all leading. However, the resolution regarding the mysterious presence was dissatisfactory. For such a great build-up, I was expecting a phenomenal revelation. Unfortunately, it lacked fizz!

Also, many of the untoward incidents which were projected as Mrs. Bailey’s doing resolved without proper reasoning and a decent closure.

Whisper Cottage has a good storyline, but the execution and fruition are terrible.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon Books in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded to 3

I really loved this book!! It had so many twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!! This was my first book by this Author, and it won’t be the last!! Quick read!! Highly recommended!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Jack and Stina decide to purchase a cottage together in a small town. When Stila meets her neighbors, she is so nice. When strange things begin to happen, Stila questions everything she knows. I liked this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this opportunity to read this book! Whisper cottage is an adult thriller. Stina and Jack are a married couple and just moved into a cottage in a small village. They are expecting a child. Jack works long hours to pay the bills meanwhile Stina struggles with her friendships new and old. Then their is also her next door neighbor old Mrs. Barley. Everyone seems to hate her. Some say she is a witch and maybe her intentions may not be good. This book was very intriguing and I knew there must have been a very big secret that the main characters had! I was right but I didn’t know what it would be. However, I wanted it to be fleshed put a bit more it seemed rushed. But this book did keep me invested and intrigued to know how it would end! Also there is something later on in this book that did upset because a certain character lets someone do something and never confronts the person for something they did. Other than that tis book was entertaining and I needed to know what was going to happen! If your looking for a new thriller to read this year I would recommend trying out Whisper Cottage it comes out September 2 2021!

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4). Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest reviews!

I thought this was a great thriller at points and was not expecting some things. I do feel, as do many, that this ending was a little rushed and random. I think that certain aspects of Stina’s life were just thrown into the book with no build up or follow up after it was mentioned and some things didn’t really add up to the story.

I think this would make a great vacation read. It can be a quick read a points, especially the last third, but some points did drag so just a heads up! I am glad this wasn’t a very predictable read, as some thrillers can be and I think the author did a great job describing the village and the characters.

Whisper Cottage is a thrilling tale with twists and turns. An unexpected thrill ride with characters who keep you guessing.and reading.

This book is absolutely riveting from the get go. A slow build and full of suspense it kept me turning pages and wanting to know what was happening.

Well Stina, Jack and Mrs Barley certainly kept me wanting to turn the pages of this book. It’s definitely a book where it gets better the further you read as you get invested in the characters and their lives. The hint of witches and paganism did make me wonder about the ending however the two (yes two) twists at the end were certainly not expected by me. This book was an enjoyable read and an easy page turner.

I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. Seemed a but dull and didn't care for story line. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

I seem to be in the minority here, so I'll start out by saying this book might just not have worked for me. However, I had several problems with it.

I loved the premise: a young couple head from the city to the countryside, find an idyllic house, and are ready to start their new lives. Then weird things start happening and the next door neighbor seems, alternatively, super sweet and then super strange. There are hints of both Rosemary's Baby and Wicker Man. But the experience of reading this novel didn't live up to my expectations.

My problems seemed to lie mostly in the execution. The book does a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. We're in the narrator's head most of the time and for long stretches in the beginning, not a lot happens. There are many, many flashbacks that are meant to provide exposition, but at times I got lost in which flashback I was in and forgot what was happening in real-time for the narrator.

Also, pacing and organization didn't click for me. For example, in chapter 8 we get our first physical descriptions of the narrator and her best friend. It feels like that needed to happen in the first chapter or two, not chapter 8.

Finally, the ending didn't work for me. I felt like it was a bit of a let-down after the attempts to create a creepy atmosphere. There were long stretches when I did feel a bit paranoid for the narrator and wondered which of the people around her--if any--were intending her harm. But the end wrapped up too neatly and in a different direction.

I don't like to discourage anyone from giving this a try--and others seem to have really enjoyed this one. But this just wasn't a winner for me.

A very enjoyable thriller which kept me guessing throughout, I must say I didn’t figure out the ending in fact I got it completely wrong! Highly recommend if you want a story that keeps you on your toes

This novel went in a direction that I wasn’t expecting, but not in a gimmicky way. I can’t say more without spoiling the ending though. There are many twists and I did enjoy the read, so it was ultimately satisfying. Stina and Jack move into a cottage when she gets pregnant. They want to raise their child in the country. Their neighbor is a kindly, but odd, old lady and the rumors about her aren’t good. Stina gives her a chance, but there is something strange about her. The setting is very atmospheric and creepy. Stina is on the verge of being hysterical, but she was always relatable. Mental illness runs in her family and she worries that the things she’s seeing are not real. I liked the supporting characters as well. This is an addictive and unpredictable read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Avon Books UK!

🧨🧨🧨 this review may contains spoiler 🧨🧨
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thankyou #netgalley for giving me this arc for an honest review .
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The story began with a newlyweds getting a new life in country side area. They get on with their neighbours instantly. The story is very well written,precise and won't you bore.
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The fact that I love the story is when stina and Mrs barley closeness. I would love that, it was amazing.
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But why wonder where is the 1 star go if it is a good story? Well, stina is seeing things and it got to the part that it doesn't add up if it's true or not . Is she illusionist this things? .
Secondly, the ending was a bit of a blur that she went to her aunts house and she did something questionable? I mean I don't get the ending at all, if it's matches with the relationship with the neighbours. Just a blur.
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Anyhow, the book deserves a 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
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❤️❤️ shaye.reads
#netgalley #whispercottage #avonpublishers #annewynclark

Stina and her husband Jack move to the country for a better life for their forthcoming family. The move into a semi-detached cottage next door to Mrs Barley. The villagers all have strange tales to tell about Mrs Barley, but she has been nothing but kindness to Stina and Jack. But soon Stina's sleep pattern is disturbed by strange noises at night and a man who only she seems to see. Is all with Mrs Barley as it seems or are the villagers correct in their insinuations?
An intruiging read that had my mind twisted in knows as to what the outcome could be.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This was a really enjoyable thriller, and I found it difficult to put down because I was so invested in the fate of the characters. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, as I had already figured out the twists.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

4 stars. Do we ever truly know our neighbors? Our spouses? Sometimes knowing the truth can ruin everything. Would you want to know if you could?

Initially, I wasn't sure what to think of this one. It definitely deals with some dark topics, but it definitely held my interest and was hard to put down. And yikes, I thought I had it figured out but I was oh so wrong. This was a creepy but enjoyable read.

Life is going to be much simpler when Stina and Jack move to Avoncote. Stina is pregnant and they are looking forward to the birth of their first child, home renovations, and getting to know their neighbors. Elderly Mr. Barley lives in the cottage next to them. She is a pleasant woman, so why do the people in the village have nothing good to say about her? She seems a little testy at times, but Stina chalks it up to old age and loneliness.
She treats them well, but why does it seem that anyone she dislikes has the worst luck? Could the townspeople be right? Did they move next door to a witch? The peaceful countryside doesn't seem quite as nice as Stina experiences some strange events. She sees a man in Mrs. Barley's yard who she says doesn't exist and strange noises ruin her sleep.
Stina has a past full of secrets and now she wonders if Mrs. Barley does too. I had my theories about how all of this would come together, and I didn't even come close. The ending was a bit of a letdown, and I did wish there was more tension in the story. Overall though, most of the threads wrapped up in a way that made sense. 3.5 stars.