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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