📖 Book Review ~ Whisper Cottage by Anne Wyn Clark

Avon Books UK
2 September 2021

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

When Stina and Jack move to an old rural cottage, they’re hoping for a fresh start. Their new home is run-down compared to their neighbour’s, but generous Mrs Barley quickly becomes a friend.

Until Stina sees a mysterious figure in the widow’s garden, and her happy new life begins to unravel. And when she hears strange noises in the night, she is forced to question if Mrs Barley is what she seems.

Why do the other villagers whisper about her? Why is she so eager to help the couple? And what is she hiding in her picture-perfect home?

📖 My Thoughts...

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.

About the Author

Anne Wyn Clark was born and raised in the Midlands where she continues to live with her husband and son, plus a chinchilla with attitude. She has three now grown up children and six grandchildren. Much 0f her formative existence was spent with her head in a book, and from an early age, she grew to relish the sheer escapism afforded by reading and writing fiction. 

Twitter @EAClarkAuthor #WhisperCottage

@AvonBooksUK