Though this is my first novel by Purcell, I can clearly see why she is highly praised as the master of haunting tales. This was an absolutely delicious read. Melpomene. One of the many tragic muses etched into Greek mythology, one who feeds on misery, tragedy, misgivings, a being so heinous that anyone careless enough to draw inspiration from such a creature shall only end up driving themselves mad.

As mentioned, the ending is the same, it is just how the details change. Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong decision here. So do whatever you personally prefer. Helping the Crone Walkthrough ¶ I did not really warm to the characters - some of them are supposed to be vile - but even Jenny the protagonist felt a little one-dimensional and I couldn't really get on board with how she was used as a pawn throughout the novel. Province of Quebec, 1896. Hidden in the hollow of a valley, the village of Sainte-Monique-Des-Monts conceals a secret that weighs heavily on the community. The village is left abandoned. Those who remain can only wait. But something else torments the inhabitants. A shadow prowls around the village. Some saw it, others heard it. They heard it whisper.

Advance Praise

At the Mercury Theatre in Londons glamorous West End, rumours are abound which all point to the impossible, curses that could never be anything more than simple hearsay and gossip. Unless….. The Whispering by Veronica Lando was published in Australia by Harper Collins and is now available.

I loved Keira, who is strong and determined, and yet doesn't really know her own past, or what has made her into the capable young woman she has become. Zoe is a hoot, and both Adage and Mason are interesting characters. In his search for answers, Callum fights to keep his feet firmly on the trail as he battles the deafening call of the rainforest burrowing into his ears. After all, everyone knows that the worst things in the rainforest are those unseen. At The Mercury Theatre in London's West End, rumours are circulating of a curse. It is said that the lead actress Lilith has made a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology, to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage.

There's many more, but here is one final example, "She was certain the graveyard would be full if she used her second sight. She touched the muscle and felt it ache. It was still sore from the previous night, so she didn't pull on it." I thought the so called muscle was deep inside her head? How exactly is she touching it? Meanwhile, Soo-yeon, another detective who has just transferred to the town, is put on the case. Soo-yeon is strong-willed and determined, but she has a dark past that has left her emotionally scarred. As she and In-chul work together to solve the case, they begin to uncover a web of lies and conspiracies that will keep you guessing till the very end.

Obsession plays a large role in this book, and is shown through multiple lenses. We have Mrs Dyer, obsessed with bringing down Lilith and determined to do whatever it takes to ensure that happens, and Lilith herself who is so incredibly obsessed with not only performing, but ensuring that she goes out and gives the performance of a lifetime every time she steps on the stage, but both of these characters share one, large obsession, which brings them only darkness and danger and death. Purcell shows just how encompassing obsession can be and how, once we loose focus on it, our world can come crashing down around us, making us a mere shell of who we were before. Purcell blends the magical with the mundane brilliantly, ensuring were never quite sure who is behind the tragic goings on at the theatre, and leaving it open enough for our imaginations to run wild. I've had an absolute ball reading this with others via The Tandem Collective. Thank you, Tandem, for organising & publisher for the copy of the book. With a gold seal winner badge on the alluring front cover of The Whispering by Veronica Lando, this 2021 Banjo Prize recipient immediately caught my eye. A quintessential Aussie crime noir, The Whispering is a tale of the past, secrets, homecoming, tragedy and conjecture. It was a thrilling slice of local crime fiction. With the help of a shop keeper in the town of Blighty named Zoe and the help of a local doctor intern named Mason, Keira sets out to find whatever she can on why there are restless spirits in the area along with finding out more about herself and how she came to end up in that area with only the memory of her name.Set in Victorian England we are introduced to the world of theatre and all the superstitions it holds. After her elder brother abandons them our protagonist Jenny is struggling to provide for her younger siblings. She is desperate and wants to create a better life for them all so when Mrs Dyer makes her a generous offer, Jenny finds it hard to say no. Having tested it out during our trip to New York earlier this year, I can categorically state that it does work ! Despite her unique gift, Soon-ae is an introverted and lonely girl who lives a secluded life with her grandmother. When In-chul comes to interview her about the murders, she confides in him about the ghost she has been talking to. Her story piques In-chul's interest, and he decides to investigate further.

The story managed to continue to build with intensity, drawing me in just as the Whispering supposedly draws the unsuspecting hiker to the deadly drop to the boulders below. Laura Purcell excels in the territory she has claimed as her own, the dark, disturbing and the tragic in this, with her chilling, atmospheric Victorian gothic storytelling with its elements of horror, with its blood and gore, as she slowly immerses the reader in the drama laden world of the characters that inhabit the Mercury Theatre in London's West End. The narrative is structured around 5 plays that echo the themes and issues of the characters, whilst simultaneously driving the storylines onwards. It soon becomes apparent that it is no accident that the plays include Dr Faustus and Macbeth. Jenny Wilcox is a desperate woman, drowning in a precarious situation exacerbated by her brother Greg, leaving her solely responsible for her family. So when she is made a job offer that she cannot refuse, she accepts, the pay is generous, there is a house and includes much needed essential medical treatment for a sibling, but will she live to regret her decision? The rainforest holds this town in its thrall, the legend of The Whispering being passed down from parents to children. They believe it.

About This Game

In the main concourse of the terminal, and something that every visitor admires, is the painted zodiac and star-studded ceiling. Photo Credit: Arnoldius for Wikimedia Commons This book has an almost eerie undercurrent running through it. It felt like people weren't in control of their actions and they could explain away their misdeeds by blaming the rainforest. The Whispering.