I love Laura Purcell’s gothic novels, and The Whispering Muse is yet another chilling tale of paranormal occurrences - this time set in a London theatre.

Jenny is persuaded to work in the Mercury Theatre as a dresser to the leading lady - and to spy on her for the owners wife. Jenny has little choice but to do as she’s asked, and initially she just gets on with it. But soon she begins to actually like the woman she’s supposed to be spying on, which leaves her in a bit of a tricky predicament.

This was a really atmospheric, gloomy and unnerving read. If I’d been able to see the setting, I would have seen shadows in every corner. My skin was crawling just reading about it!

Laura Purcell has become an insta-buy author for me - historical fiction with a touch of threatening, unexplainable atmosphere would appear to be right up my street!

The story is gripping throughout and evokes such a creepy feel for the reader - perfect for theatre fans due to its setting, for lovers of ghostly goings-on, and of course for historical fiction fans.
Laura Purcell never fails in my opinion, l've loved every single one of her books - she's an auto-buy author for me!

The Whispering Muse I’ve not been able to put this book down all day Laura Purcell had done it again. So much so it’s been finished in a day

Spooky and atmospheric did not disappoint

Thoroughly enjoyed this atmospheric, gothic tale. Full of twists and turns, it hooked me from the start. A perfect read to cosy up with. I’m a big fan of this author (I loved the silent companions) and this book didn’t let me down. Full of suspense it kept me wanting to read on well into the early hours..

I really enjoy Laura Purcell novels, so even though my tbr pile kept me from reading this - I’m finally glad I did.
A theatre setting and the gothic, drama and obsession drive this story and I had a great time reading it! Check out the blurb; it come highly recommended from me :)

The Whispering Muse spins a tale of obsession and vindictiveness with the backdrop of a performing theatre brimming with superstitious beliefs that plays, props and the theatre itself, are cursed by Melpomene, the Greek muse of tragedy. The story begins with our heroine, Jenny, being offered employment by the wife of the Mercury Theatre’s owner, Mrs. Dyer, to be the newest dresser of the theatre’s leading actress, Lilith. The offer of the position is lifesaving since Jenny and her family have fell on hard times, and in her desperation, she does not realise she may have signed up for more than what she bargained for…

The mark of an excellent story is its ability to keep your mind tickling long after you have finished it. This is true of The Whispering Muse. I have a deep appreciation for how much thought Purcell has put into this book to ensure layers of depth. Truly, if the story had wrapped up a little sooner, this would have been perfect.

The primary theme of obsession is served by Mrs. Dyer’s obsession with Lilith, Lilith’s obsession with Melpomene and society’s obsession with tales of tragedy. Then the genre of tragedy itself, as our three main ladies have tragically been taken advantage of by those they have trusted (I am not detailing the specific tragedies to prevent spoilers) with the backdrop of the theatre performing classic tragedies of Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth, to name a few. The use of and referencing of well-known and popular tragedies added exquisite atmosphere and combined with the belief of Melpomene’s presence and superstitious beliefs, granted the Mercury Theatre ominous life.

There was also something about this novel that felt undeniably female. There’s focus on women being mothers, caretakers and providers, as well as having dreams and aspirations beyond what the gender is afforded by society and the laws of this era. There is a wicked beauty in the fact it is a female figure of Greek mythology who, if you believe, wreaks havoc on the theatre where it is the women who suffer the most. And in this vein, I will iterate this is a horror novel so has elements of gore, please know there is a descriptive abortion scene in this book.

Laura Purcell’s talent for crafting compelling gothic mysteries knows no bounds. The Whispering Muse ensnares with its gothic and tragic blend, macabre setting, toxic leading ladies and dramatic themes of obsession and superstition. It would be a fantastic read to cosy up with on a dark winter’s night or kept for an eerie evening in Spooktober.

2.5/5

As much as I have enjoyed the gothic elements of this book, I have to admit that there were points where I really struggled to continue. I contemplated DNFing a few times, because it was not captivating me. The Whispering Muse had a lot of potential, particularly with the setting of the tragic theatre, but the execution fell flat simply because the characters were mere cardboard cutouts and the pacing was neither here nor there.

The passage of time in this book is difficult to follow, particularly as there's no indicators aside from the odd "we're almost at summer break" throwaway comment. You don't see much growth in the characters in this time, which makes it difficult to feel interested in their stories.

The relationships throughout the book, platonic and romantic, are very one-dimensional. They're rushed, and there's hardly any explanation as to how they get there. I wish there was more focus on the romantic build up, a bit more by way of repentance to really develop the friendships.

The ending was so abrupt, I had to double take as I was shocked it was over. The book needed at least 50 more pages of resolution. It wasn't a satisfying ending in any way, with everything ending in the span of 2 pages in the most basic, ridiculous sense. For something which had such captivating gothic elements throughout, the ending completely lacked in terms of shock factor.

I wish I had enjoyed this more, but with such an unlikeable main character and a lack of any real dimension throughout, The Whispering Muse simply fell too flat.

Having gone to a school where reading Shakespeare was mandatory, I approached this with caution but the minute I started I couldn't put it down. Yes it includes Shakespeare but the heart of the book is the plays theatre and its quips and querks. Unbelievably good, I was lost in its narrative for hours. Thoroughly enjoyable 5 stars.

Another amazing book from Laura Purcell. I loved the relationship between the three female main characters and the themes of obession. She does an amazing job of bringing the settings, especially the Mercury Theatre, to life. Haunting, but not in the way you'd usually expect from one of her books. Instead, this is unsettling and creepy and will stick in your brain. I think this will be one of my favourites of the year!

Loved the theatre setting of The Whispering Muse and the huge level of suspense throughout. Brilliant book!

I have absolutely loved all of Laura Purcell's novels and so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read The Whispering Muse.
As with all of the author's novels it's beautifully written and atmospheric and really transports the reader to the period. It's set in Victorian England when Jenny becomes a dresser at a theatre. I adore books set in Victorian England and the author really brings this period and Jenny and her family to life. I wasn't immediately drawn to the theatre setting and it took me a while to absorb myself into this and the theatre characters. However it still contains all the aspects that for me, make Laura Purcell one of my favourite writers. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I am a huge fan of Laura's work, The Silent Companions and The Shape of Darkness being my favourites. This one wasn't 'quite' as good as them but it still had it's eerie and creepy moments and still made me want to keep reading. Another cracker :)

Always a treat to read a Laura Purcell and this one doesn't disappoint. Set in the world of theatre, and adding supernatural elements with larger-than-life characters, it was a entertaining read. I felt the end was a bit take when compared to the rest of the story but still a good read.

The Whispering Muse is everything that Gothic horror should be. It’s haunting, eerie, and compulsive. A cautionary tale that you should never underestimate a woman’s ability to exact revenge.

The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell is definitely a contender for book of the year. The plight of a young woman trying to make ends meet to care for her family. Their brother ran off with another man’s fiancée and stole from Jenny’s employer threatening to bring her record into disrepute. The story is told in Victorian London and let me tell you – I was right there. I imagined the cobbled streets, the smog, the costumes, the inequality. Laura Purcell has a way of transporting her readers into the heart of the tale with her strong narrative skills.

Jenny has a hard life, like many families during Victorian London. Jobs are low paying and living conditions are harsh, but she makes do. After her brother leaves them in disgrace, Jenny is made to step up, to become head of the household. Her brother, Bertie needs an operation to correct club foot. They’d almost saved up enough but then her brother took that too. Jenny is invited to The Mercury theatre by its owner’s wife, Mrs Dyer, she fears its to recompense them for all her brother stole. It appears she wants to offer her a position at the theatre of dresser to their leading lady, Lilith. She is paid handsomely, however, there is a catch, of course there is.

Mrs Dyer does not like Lilith. She wants Jenny to spy on her and report back to Mrs Dyer with her weekly findings. Jenny does see that things are not as they seem with Lilith. She’s avoiding being measured for her costumes and Jenny makes it her mission to find out why. Although they have a prickly relationship together, with Lilith calling her Kitty, due to her catty behaviour, made me chuckle, they do eventually become friends. Lilith is vastly misunderstood and is also a victim of being a woman in Victorian Britain, her stature as a woman is fragile and it takes being propped up by a man with status to propel her career as an actress. My feminist rage felt for her.

Mrs Dyer wants to prepare Jenny for theatre life and Shakespeare productions in particular. She pays for her to see Dr. Faustus at a local theatre. The actor playing Faustus is well renowned for being the best. But the performance becomes marred with tragedy when the actor dies on stage in a grisly and gory fashion. A small timepiece seems to be connected and Jenny feels distraught at what she’s witnessed.

Events very quickly get out of hand and Jenny is led down a dangerous road. She is riddled with guilt for her part, and she decides to try and make amends by any means necessary. I really liked Jenny – she is a pure character that wants to see the best in everyone and is fiercely protective of her family. I felt for her as she is pulled in many different directions. She feels the pressure of being a mother figure, a good employee, but what does it leave of herself?

Laura Purcell is an amazing writer. She has a piercing talent that manages to get under her reader’s skin. The descriptions of the theatre world made me fall in love. The novel has a sense of creeping dread running through its pages. You know something is up, but you’re just waiting for the payoff and boy when it hits *chefs kiss*

Another superb addition to this author’s oeuvre and perhaps her finest to date.

In Victorian England, Jenny has been offered a position as dresser in a leading theatre. The plays the theatre put on reflect the reality of life in the theatre: naked ambition, greed and deals with the devil.

The story is told at a tremendous pace and never loses the reader’s attention. There is naturally (for those familiar with Purcell’s previous work) a streak of the supernatural which pervades the story. But this is essentially a novel about people and their relationships, and the betrayals and dark deeds committed by the self-serving.

There is plenty of gore in this gothic tale and plenty of drama. 😉 The ending is foreshadowed by the story of Faust, performances of which bookend the story, although the retribution appears indiscriminate.

Engrossing and a delight to read.

Jenny, a young woman hoping for a second start after her brother caused her problems, takes a job at the Mercury Theatre in London, dressing rising star and lead actress Lilith Erikson. Jenny has been assigned a secondary task by a jealous Mrs Dyer: spy on Lilith and report back, a woman regarded as unseemly, odd, and too intimate with Mr Dyer. As Jenny works alongside Lilith, she learns of tales of a contract Lilith, like her predecessor, has made for fame and renown on the stage with the tragic muse of Greek mythology, Melpomene, and the bloody, treacherous consequences this has. The setting is ideal. The theatre, full of superstitions and pretend and ambitious, dramatic people jockeying for positions and roles and playing games against one another, perfectly fits into Gothic storytelling. In that context, a magical muse, or perhaps another entity, feels just fitting. With its trapdoors, overhanging platforms, and props, it's also a location full of danger and intrigue.
The book is organised around a series of plays, each serving as an "Act" of the novel. The various catastrophes enacted in the Mercury revealed different elements of our stars as things became increasingly dangerous and terrible.
#disabilityrep #thewhisperingmuse #historicalfictiol #womensfiction

I've read everything by Laura Purcell, she never fails to disappoint me. Her books remind me of Susan Hills short gothic stories but with Purcell it's a full book! This takes place in victorian times in a theatre which in all honesty is my favourite thing about this book, dare I say its her best to date and her others are fantastic. If you like your horror more on the supernatural side you will love this.

A slam dunk 5 star read! Dare I say this may be Laura Purcell’s best yet?! I found this very original and unexpected in terms of story and plot- a flavour of Lovecraft about it. The blend of historical detail, treading the Victorian boards, combined with the horror fantasy is perfectly and skilfully balanced.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic mystery set in a Victorian theatre. Purcell effortlessly weaves together an enthralling story which nods to the history of the theatre, incorporating classics Macbeth and Doctor Faustus, and the many superstitions and pressures in the sector at the time.

The protagonist Jenny is likeable and empathetic, and every character is incredibly well-drawn, from the villain to the bit characters of the story and everyone in between. This was a compulsive, atmospheric read - this author has carved a niche for herself and she completely owns it.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ), for the chance to read and advance copy of this wonderful book.

Utterly engaging, gory, mystifying, memorable, shocking and very real.

The story is set in one of the most evocative engaging and atmospheric depictions of Victorian England I've ever read.

Highly recommended, five stars.