This ticks the boxes for gothic atmosphere and sinister, unsettling tone and the sense of place is vividly drawn - but the pace is so slow for the first 2/3rds that I found my interest waning and struggled to motivate myself to pick this up and carry on reading. I'm glad I persevered because the pay off is well worth it, as secrets are uncovered and characters motivations become clearer. The last part of the book is hugely satisfying, and Wheatley is an author I'll look out for in future, but this would have engaged me more if the revelations of the plot were spread throughout the book, and a little less scene setting early on

The Whistling is an atmospheric ghost story, set in Iskar a family home on Skelthsea a remote Scottish island.

Elspeth has taken on the job as a nanny to escape her recent tragedy. She realises that she's entering a role with some mystery because her new charge Mary is rendered mute after the unexplained death of her twin William.

"Never for a moment would it have occurred to me that I would be entering a life that would take so many dark and strange directions and a house with such a presence."

What a set up! From the off, you know that it's going to get more foreboding.
The stark yet beautiful Skelthsea and the ominous and decaying Iskar hint at their secrets surreptitiously. When you add the furtive and peculiar inhabitants you realise, you're in for a treat.

The tension is kept high as through Elspeth attempts to comfort Mary and return her voice, increasingly more mystifying secrets and parallel similarities are revealed.

"I felt the vibration of secrets."

Elspeth and the reader find out together that there is more to the mystery than first assumed. Unexplained and sinister occurances are rife, allegiances are unveiled, mystery upon mystery abound.
Will we ever find out what happened to William and why Mary does not speak?

There is lot of foreshadowing which is rendered all the more unnerving through the excellent writing style, setting the scenes perfectly. No detail is wasted. But it is the things unsaid and inferred that made the gradual creeping menacing dread terrifying.

The Whistling had all the hallmarks from the beginning of a gripping read, mysterious new assignment, atmospheric environment, family with secrets, damaged child with hidden trauma, uncanny incidents and the subtle occurances of unnerving presences.

"After she had gone, I realized that she left me unaccountably a little afraid."

And it lived up to all of them, a cracking read.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for a copy of this book in return for a candid review.
4 Stars

It must be hellishly difficult to creep someone out by just one's choice of words. Film directors have it easy - they've got the visuals and the music but not so for a novelist. But there were a couple of instances in this debut novel by Rebecca Netley that truly felt me feeling as if someone had walked over my grave!
However, the novel is a little too slow. Because of its setting, the time period, etc, I knew it would unravel slowly and carefully but there's slow and then there's sloooowwww.
But, on the whole, a novel well worth reading, and written with great assurance. I look forward to reading more of Ms Netley's work!

I received a free copy from Netgalley to review, here is the blurb:

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..?

This is definitely what I would call a traditional gothic horror novel, with the haunted house, strange happenings and ghostly goings on. I was really invested in the characters ELspeth and Mary and enjoyed how their relationship developed. I thought all of the characters were well developed and the plot was good, some of it was predictable and some of it was not.

If you enjoy the traditional period haunted house type story you will definitely enjoy this book.

Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my advance review copy of this book.

Things that go bump in the night ★★★★☆

When Elspeth takes up the position of nanny on a Scottish island, she quickly realises that something is very wrong at Iskar.

As she slowly bonds with grieving nine-year-old Mary, Elspeth finds herself growing increasingly frightened of the house, its ghosts, and the rumours of witchcraft behind its walls.

An eerie presence stalks the halls at night, singing a lullaby. William's toys move on their own accord. Elspeth finds dolls which imitate the house's inhabitants and pebbles entwined with human hair. And beneath it all, there is the whistling.

Can Elspeth save herself and Mary from the dark forces surrounding them? Should she be more afraid of the dead... Or the living?

A creepy and compelling ghost story to be read with the light on.

For fans of Laura Purcell.

Set in the 1800's on the fictional Scottish island of Skelthsea, Elspeth is hired as a nanny. She will care for Mary who has been mute since the sudden death of her brother William who died days after their previous nanny disappeared.

With Mary remaining mute, Elspeth turns to the locals to try discover what happened to William or the nanny, but everyone is staying quiet.

With creepy dolls showing up in old abandoned rooms, haunting lullablies in empty corridors and a strange whistling which seems to come from nowhere, will Elspeth find out whats going on?

This is everything I wanted it to be, a classic ghost story but it has lots of twists and turns. I gave this book 4 stars because the story does start really slowly but it certainly helps to set the scene. The story really picks up just over halfway when things start to get creepy and atmospheric. Definitely a good book for those cold, dark autumn nights!!

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers and the author for the advanced copy.

This is a gothic tale set on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea in the 1860s. Following a family tragedy, Elspeth leaves her home town to take on the role of nanny to young Mary. All is not as it seems with strange goings on and whistling in the night.
This has the setting for a good ghost story. Set on a remote & wild island the author does provide an ideal setting for unusual happenings. Elspeth is trapped here with the boats to the mainland being infrequent with poor winter weather. There is no running away from the things that scare here & even if she was to run away what about Mary? There is a real sense that Mary has few people to turn to apart from the vicar's wife and the strange cunning woman.
I felt that this was a good story in general though there were places where it got a bit predictable. I did have the main perpetrator worked out from early on despite the author's attempts to provide red herrings - perhaps I have read a few too many ghost stories! However, the main characters were well written with some depth.
I enjoyed this book & felt that it was well written. However to make it special it would have been nice if there had been something unusual and totally unexpected.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

Winner of the 2018 Exeter Novel prize, Rebecca Netley’s The Whistling is at once an atmospheric ghost story that takes its cue from the gothic tradition, and a beautifully rendered examination of loss and recovery.

Set in the late 1800’s, it follows the journey of a young nanny, Elspeth, whose attempt to escape the tragic loss of her family leads her away from the urban gaze of Edinburgh to the fictional Scottish island of Skelthsea. Here, her raw emotional state finds its physical counterpoint not only in the fierce and unforgiving landscape but in the decaying manor house called Iskar and Elspeth’s new young charge Mary with whose care she has been assigned. Both the obstacle and the compulsion of this new post becomes quickly apparent when we discover that Mary has been mute since the mysterious death of her brother William, a challenge which presents itself to Elspeth not only as an opportunity to rehabilitate the child but, in doing so, find atonement for herself and her enduring sense of guilt around the loss of her own sibling. Of course, “all is not well at Iskar” and before long the first seeds of an unwelcome presence in the house make themselves known. Just as in the most resonant gothic novels - from The Haunting of Hill House to The Turn of the Screw - these initial signs are initially conceivable as manifestations of a troubled psychology, but as the novel progresses we learn that there is indeed a more supernatural, external element at play.

Netley is extremely impressive at inhabiting the mise-en-scene of her terrain: the harsh island landscape and the slow rot of Iskar itself is both beautifully visual and rendered in a formal, but always readable, lyrical prose which immerses the reader throughout. The first part of the novel, remarked upon by other readers as slower in pace, is to my mind essential to the establishment of both the stakes and the emotional engagement with its protagonist, and something which elevates the story to more than its branding within the horror genre. Yes, there are chilling moments within the book, but to come to it expecting a litany of more visceral tropes would be to mistake the intention of it.

This is because beneath its (sometimes obviously) supernatural veneer is a deeper story about grief and loss and the compulsion to find atonement in the salvation of others, for in Elspeth’s quest to break the cycle of evil and superstition that has enveloped Skelthsea is a broader question about the liberation of guilt. Most of the characters in the novel constellate around this theme of personal responsibility, be it towards a greater sense of peace or, conversely, towards further denial.

From a very personal perspective, I would have loved to have seen this element explored more, specifically how the idea of female agency and emotional trauma were treated historically with its socio-political links to witchcraft and the use of asylums. In addition, I would also have liked, perhaps, for the more sinister aspects of the story to be more clearly indistinguishable from the psyche of its characters, and/or a sense of being more motivated or conjured by the emotional wounds that bind them. I am thinking especially of Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger, which masterfully keeps its terror purely within the possibilities of the human mind, tightly entwining its examinations of class and envy within the fabric of its thematic haunting.

These are subjective things, of course, and in no way limits the enjoyment of Netley’s book which more than earns its readers’ attention. The skillful plotting and deliberate sleight of hand she demonstrates towards the end of the novel especially, shows both talent and confidence in abundance. Most importantly, we find ourselves absolutely rooting for Elspeth; touched by her growing emotional surrogacy for Mary, and her believable trajectory towards a greater sense of bravery and closure.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Michael Joseph, for an ARC of this novel in return for an unbiased review.

This book was very atmospheric and the characters were interesting and likeable. If felt like if Broadchurch and the haunting of bly manor had a baby and it was a book. The pacing of the novel was just too slow for me it's definitely a slow burn book which just isn't my cup of tea but if you like that in a horror novel then this could be the one for you.

A spooky tale set on an atmospheric Scottish island. Slightly formulaic in places, but a decent, engaging read. Definitely a good Halloween read.

This does the a bit if work to force yourself to get to the point where the plot starts to get interesting but it's definitely worth sticking with it for what turned out to be a pretty decent book!I would have liked it If the entire book had been as captivating as the end and it does feel like you're just waiting on the book to start for the 1st few chapters but it does get there in the end and does make a very creepy read

The Whistling by Rebecca Netley is a chilling Gothic tale set in 1860 on a beautiful, remote Scottish island. A lonely young woman arrives from Edinburgh to be the nanny of an orphaned child struck dumb by the sudden death of her twin brother. Elspeth enjoys building a relationship with little Mary and relishes the freedom of Skelthsea’s beaches and cliffs, until her peace is disturbed by inexplicable and frightening events. Unearthly lullabies echo along the deserted corridors of the crumbling mansion ruled by Mary’s self-absorbed aunt. Faceless dolls appear in abandoned bedrooms. Most horrific of all, a weird whistling disturbs the night.

The wild landscape of sea and sky reflects Elspeth’s inward struggle while she challenges the supernatural elements threatening Mary, whom she has grown to love. In spite of their superficial allegiance to the Christian church, some members of this isolated fishing community believe in an older religion where the barrier between the living and the dead can be broken. Their influence is felt in the refusal of the inhabitants to talk to Elspeth about the mysterious events leading up to the death of Mary’s twin.

I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review and found it compulsive reading. The complex, twisty story is told in first person by Elspeth. Her character, a level-headed young person who must find her way through unearthly horrors to save someone dear to her, is completely convincing. What I most enjoyed about The Whistling is that until the shocking conclusion it is never certain whether the suffering endured by Mary and Elspeth, who have both been bereaved in tragic circumstances, is due to their mental anguish or the revenge of the angry dead.

I recommend The Whistling to lovers of ghost stories and all things Gothic.

I came across The Whistling on bookstagram and after reading the synopsis I just had to add it to my to read list. I love a classic ghost story. And a classic ghost story this was complete with of all the known and loved tropes usually found in such a book. However Rebecca truly put her own stamp on the ghost story genre, giving you many twists and turns which keeps you hooked. Although it was a little slow in the middle the ending is definitely worth it. I would highly recommend this and eagerly await new works from Rebecca.

Slow to start,possibly in the name of setting everything up just right.
The scene,the backstop,the characters.
Then about the half way point,things take a turn,and they do become sinister and more than a little creepy.
You are wondering at the ghost or mortal element of the houses disruption.
It speeds then towards its ending,which was a tad predictable,but enjoyable non the less.
A good halloween read I think.

The Whistling sets out its stall early. Seeking to move on from past events, Elspeth Swansome arrives through drizzle and mist at the Scottish island of Skelthsea, her ‘eyes shadowed by sleepless nights.’ Unfortunately for Elspeth, plenty more of those nights are to come.

Immediately, the novel’s rich descriptive language wins us over, placing us into a situation where the author plays with gothic tropes to provide something a little familiar yet disturbingly twisted. The settings are rich, shifts in time and weather reflecting the ever-changing moods of its assembly of vivid characters. This is a book of the senses, of light and darkness, of tricks of the eye, of sounds and smells both natural and unexplained, and the devil is often to be found in the detail. Careful, attentive readers will be very much at home here.

The novel plies its trade in a slow build-up of curiosity, revelation, dread and menace, and, while it would be easy to enjoy it as simply a well-crafted spooky story, there is a lot more to reward the reader here. I particularly enjoyed the evocation of an isolated community and the toughness of life in such a place, juxtaposed with its moments of wild beauty and connection. Many of the characters have endured hardships, but we come to understand that this is what has made them, and it is what keeps them here, in spite of everything. Above all, however bleak things become, we see how it is love that binds and hope that shines in the darkness of the blackest night, keeping us going when the footsteps outside the door almost overwhelm.

The Whistling is a book I found it hard to leave alone for long, wanting to know what would happen next, and it lingers on in the memory. It’s a great story with moments of heart-grabbing terror, beautifully written and perfectly judged.

With thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for the advance copy in return for an unbiased review.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about Elspeth she leaves he hometown of Glasgow after suffering the loss of her father and then her sister. She takes up a position of Nanny on a remote island called Skelthsea in Scotland. This is supposed to be a fresh start for Elspeth but her charge Mary is a strange child who chooses not to speak. The house is full of strange noises and secrets.

I enjoyed this story on the whole but the story is quite slow at the start and takes a little while to get going. I became more absorbed in the second half of the book when the pace speeds up a little. The characters were well written and it was easy to imagine the island. I was worried that there would be a lot of flowery language and description but there isn’t. This is an enjoyable easy read. If you like gothic spooky tales with some mystery thrown in then you will certainly enjoy this one.

Very gothic and atmospheric. As the book evolves it becomes more than a horror story, with tragedy and deception in the mix. It is multi layered and on the whole well written, though I feel Part One is over long and a little repetitive.

Elspeth has suffered a lot of tragedy in a short space of time, so feels that a complete change of scenery would help her recover from her loss. She is employed as a nanny by an old established family on a remote Scottish island. Needless to say all is not as it seems. All the ingredients for a spooky tale!

After a slow start the pace of this book really picked up and became more enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley.

‘The Whistling’ by Rebecca Netley would normally be my type of novel but unfortunately I just didn’t really enjoy it. I felt that the writing was a bit stilted and just didn’t flow well. The storyline was ok but nothing new.

This is a stunning tale about love, loss and betrayal. This is a beautifully written gothic and atmospheric story that chills you to your bones, this book is very different to your other average 'horror' stories and is much more unsettling and beautiful than you can imagine. Rebecca does a fantastic job of creating her characters and ensuring that they are fully fleshed out, you grow to love some of them whilst learning to become wary of others. If you are after a beautiful but unsettling ghost story then this is the one for you. One this book has you in it's grip, it does not let go. I loved the setting of the story and could easily create an image of Skelthsea in my mind which also helped illustrate how truly isolated from the city life Elspeth was so used too now that she was in charge of Mary. I truly didn't expect the twists and turns that this book took and I felt like I was on one hell of a rollercoaster, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Thank you for letting me review this wonderful piece of art and look forward to your future novels.

I think it's incorrect to label this within the horror genre, as there is more depth & panache here. For me, it read like a love story but on many layers. I hope readers are willing to try this as they would be rewarded by a rich, deep story full of loss and suspense, contained within a plot that steps carefully through a world of secrets & loss.

The central characters are full & thoughtfully brought to life as the plot swirls around them, leading to a conclusion which is very satisfying. I was really surprised by this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.