The Whistling

Title: The Whistling

Author: Rebecca Netley

Published in: 2021

Date read: 20th July 2024

Score: 4/5

Genre: Supernatural, Psychological, Thriller, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Whistling" by Rebecca Netley, published in 2021, is a gothic horror novel that blends a chilling atmosphere with psychological tension and a haunting mystery. It draws on classic tropes of isolated settings and unsettling childhood experiences to create a pervasive sense of dread.

The story is set in 1906 and follows Elspeth Swansome, a young woman who accepts a position as a nanny on a remote, windswept Scottish island called Skelthsea. Elspeth is seeking to escape her own recent personal tragedy: the death of her beloved younger sister, Elara. She hopes the solitude and new environment will offer a much-needed respite and a chance to heal.

Upon arriving at the desolate, crumbling, and isolated house, Elspeth meets her new charge, Mary, a seemingly ordinary eight-year-old girl. However, Mary is unnervingly quiet, withdrawn, and rarely speaks. Her silence is particularly unsettling given the circumstances: she is the sole survivor of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of her entire family, including her twin brother, William. Since the tragedy, Mary has not uttered a single word.

The atmosphere of the house and the island quickly proves to be oppressive. The house is old, filled with shadows, and seems to hold a heavy past. The island itself is bleak and often shrouded in mist, with a history steeped in local folklore and superstition. Elspeth begins to experience strange phenomena: faint whispers, unexplained noises, and the distinct sound of whistling that seems to emanate from the very walls of the house, particularly from Mary's room.

As Elspeth attempts to connect with Mary and delve into the reasons for her silence, she uncovers the chilling history of the house and the unsettling details surrounding the fire. The whistling sounds become more persistent and malevolent, suggesting a supernatural presence. Elspeth comes to believe that the ghosts of Mary's family, especially the spirit of her twin brother, may be trapped within the house, desperately trying to communicate or perhaps seeking revenge.

The novel is a slow-burn of psychological horror, focusing on Elspeth's increasing isolation and the blurring lines between her own grief-induced fragility and the genuine supernatural events. She must determine if the sounds are a manifestation of Mary's trauma, her own lingering grief, or a truly malevolent haunting.

The climax sees Elspeth confronting the terrifying truth of what happened at the house, battling the malevolent forces that cling to the walls, and attempting to bring peace to the tormented souls within, all while trying to protect Mary from the dark secrets that haunt her past. "The Whistling" is a atmospheric and creepy tale of a house that refuses to let go of its dead.

Comments:
I thought I'd try a new author and I was certainly not disappointed. This book was not only a great story with a solid mystery, it had the right level of haunting to keep me thoroughly interested. Bravo Rebecca!

Books that we've read by Rebecca Netley (1):
The Whistling (2021)