I can’t believe I’ve already finished my 9th book in the 10 before the end challenge, it was a book that has been on my TBR a while and one I had high hopes for.

The whistling is a book by Rebecca Netley and is supposed to be a thriller but I wouldn’t necessarily put it in that genre.

The quote on the cover says “when you hear the whistling it’s already too late” which made me think of some type of serial killer book but it wasn’t.

The book plays out at the end of the 1800’s and after Elspeth lost the one person she was looking after but also could call home, she accepts a new position on a remote Island called Skelthsea to be a live in Nanny.

Elspeth’s charge is named Mary and nowhere in the letters she exchanged with Mary’s aunt did it say that the child was mute and almost expressionless. Some moths prior Mary lost her twin brother William and a while before that Elspeth’s predecessor left without word. Skelthsea is a remote island only accessible by boat, once Elspeth is near, she can see that house already. It’s named Iskar and has been in the Gillies family for a long time.

Iskar is somewhat in ruin, not the whole of this mansion is safely accessible and not many staff members remain. Elspeth took the job with an open mind; little did she know she’ll come to regret it. Not because of Mary but because of the secrets that are hidden and events that happened that aren’t spoken of. Iskar feels haunted and not by the friendly ghost kind; with help of a local Elspeth banishes the Ghosts back to their realm but still something feels wrong. In all the months working with Mary, the only thing she got out the girl was a giggle but not a word has been spoken.

Elspeth knows Mary can talk, when Mary is alone with no one around she does whisper in the strangest of languages but once Mary feels someone’s near, she stops. Even questioned she won’t answer. What has this little girl so spooked that she hasn’t used her voice for so long?

When all the pieces of the puzzle come together, danger is looking her in the eye and she has to choose.

The book was very long without much happening, the writing was good though.

I’m giving it a ⭐⭐,5 star.