Official Review: Night of a Thousand Whispers

420waystoreachthesun · Post by **420waystoreachthesun** » 19 May 2018, 09:31

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Night of a Thousand Whispers" by Howard Kiel.]

3 out of 4 stars

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“Perhaps it was seven thousand miles from where the action really was, but there was more than enough crime to write about in Sydney, and that was her forte.”

Night of a Thousand Whispers by Howard Kiel is a novel that chronicles the experiences of an investigative journalist (Kate Walton) who is sassy, beautiful, and fearless. One night, Kate receives a mysterious phone call that intrigues her. As a result, she calls her friend to come with her for backup to meet the caller. The caller gives her some explosive information that “has international repercussions”. She is then aided by her friend and an unlikely alliance as she attempts to solve the mystery handed to her by the stranger. Will she succeed before it's too late?

This book is for young adults and adults who are intrigued by crime fiction. It is a very intense read and it is impossible to put the book down until the very end. Perhaps in the case of crime fiction, the most important element of the novel is the plot, which is, in this case, quite interesting. The structure of the novel is very polished and it is clear that the author has done his research when it comes to understanding the nuances of the investigative world. The whole narrative is very unified and coherent. Despite looking for errors and loopholes, I was unable to find them.

Another important element of the novel that has a major impact on the reader is the characterisation. In this particular novel, the author has created very realistic and grounded characters whose lives are weighed down by their personal pasts. The author has done a splendid job with the character of the protagonist. I found Kate charming and irresistibly unforgettable. She is the kind of protagonist that every story needs. However, there was an absence of other intense characters who could support her narrative with their voices. There could’ve definitely been stronger characterisation in the novel.

Another very important aspect is the writing style of the author. I really like the way that the author has built a beautiful narrative, even though sometimes it seems a bit fragmented. The reader might feel lost in a couple of places, but other than that, the writing style really enhanced the beauty of the book. Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I have taken off a point because I feel that the author could’ve done more work on the characterisation, but I strongly urge lovers of crime fiction to read this book.

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Night of a Thousand Whispers
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Sahani Nimandra · Post by **Sahani Nimandra** » 24 May 2018, 00:12

International repercussions you say, hmmm! I wonder what it may turn out to be. Thank you for your review!

emmkus · Post by **emmkus** » 24 May 2018, 08:39

Awesome review. Too much suspense I can't wait to start reading.

gen_g · Post by **gen_g** » 24 May 2018, 09:55

I love it when books have almost no grammatical errors, as it shows that the novel is something that is precious to the author and editor due to the amount of effort put in. It is a pity that the characters were not well-developed. Thanks for the review!

stacie k · Post by **stacie k** » 24 May 2018, 10:45

This crime thriller sounds intriguing! I'm happy to hear about the excellence in editing. That seems hard to find. I would be interested to read this book despite the weak characterization. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Samantha Simoneau · Post by **Samantha Simoneau** » 24 May 2018, 13:16

Ooh! Nicely written review! An "international ... mystery handed to her by a stranger." I'm hooked. Now I've got to know what it is. Thanks for the recommendation!

Jackie Holycross · Post by **Jackie Holycross** » 24 May 2018, 16:12

I think I would need a few more details to decide if this one is for me or not.

liftedbooks · Post by **liftedbooks** » 25 May 2018, 07:09

I like a good mystery. Perhaps I might read this, if only to quench my curiosity. Thank you for the great review.

Libs_Books · Post by **Libs_Books** » 25 May 2018, 12:39

420waystoreachthesun wrote: ↑19 May 2018, 09:31 The structure of the novel is very polished and it is clear that the author has done his research when it comes to understanding the nuances of the investigative world. The whole narrative is very unified and coherent. ...Another important element of the novel that has a major impact on the reader is the characterisation. In this particular novel, the author has created very realistic and grounded characters whose lives are weighed down by their personal pasts. The author has done a splendid job with the character of the protagonist. I found Kate charming and irresistibly unforgettable. She is the kind of protagonist that every story needs. However, there was an absence of other intense characters who could support her narrative with their voices. There could’ve definitely been stronger characterisation in the novel.

I really like the sound of this, despite some weaknesses in characterisation, it sounds as though the main characters are very rounded - coupled with a flawless plot construction, that sounds like a great read to me.

Edgeona · Post by **Edgeona** » 25 May 2018, 20:10

An intriguing story, I look forward to reading this novel.

arcie72 · Post by **arcie72** » 26 May 2018, 01:07

Eventhough mystery is not my genre your enthusiastic and positive review made the book appealing. I appreciate that you praised the author and editor for their great editing of the book. I am glad for all the readers for have found a new book to add to their bookshelves.

Fuzzy456 · Post by **Fuzzy456** » 26 May 2018, 12:51

This book sounds like a worthwhile page-turner. I LOVE suspense novels. Thanks for your honest review!

Britty01 · Post by **Britty01** » 29 May 2018, 17:40

Thanks for the very insightful review. This sounds like a book I shall enjoy reading.

Sakilunamermaid · Post by **Sakilunamermaid** » 02 Jun 2018, 20:05

Just the title of the book and the quote you began your review with are intriguing enough to check this book out. I have a hard time passing on a good investigation story.