The Murmurs: The most compulsive, chilling gothic thriller you'll read this year…: 1 (The Annie Jackson Mysteries) Paperback – Import, 14 September 2023

I say this each time I read Michael's novels - this was the best so far! This one kept me engrossed from start to finish. Just as you think you have figured it out, Michael has thrown in twist or 2, or 3! Certainly another winner and looking forward to the next one - hurry up already!

This a great read, I really enjoyed it! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, nope it’s way better! I love how the curse reached back to the past, it added a great nuance to the story. How we get to see generations down the line is so cool. Superbly done, I couldn’t stop reading!

I devoured this book. Picked it up, started reading and, mere moments later, poof …. it was gone. Or that’s how it felt. Michael J. Malone is a master of literary gothic imaginings and, with The Murmurs, he has created a story which grabbed me from the bewitching opening (no pun intended) to the beautifully fitting final pages. This is no ordinary thriller, not your typical whodunnit style of mystery, although there are certainly elements of that contained within. This is a story packed with the inexplicable, or, at the very least, the unexpected, laced with emotion, complex familial relationships and secrets which are destined to be revealed in truly dramatic style.In The Murmurs we meet Annie Jackson, a young woman with a particular, and very unwelcome gift. She begins to suffer from debilitating visions, a sense of foreshadowing in which she is able to see the untimely, and devastating, future of those around her. It begins on her first day in a new job at a care home, the eponymous murmurs that whisper to her the truths that no-one wants to hear. But this is not really the first time Annie has experienced this particular gift, or rather curse, and we are soon drawn into her tragic past as she struggles to understand what is happening to her.What I really like about Michael J Malone’s writing is his ability to create such realistic characters who, whilst not always the most endearing of people, I find myself compulsively drawn towards. Annie is a confused young woman, but the more we learn about her history, the easier it is to understand why her life is lived in such stark contrast to her twin brother, Lewis. Annie is a complex character, not just because of her special circumstances, but also because of the difficult relationship she had with her mother. The truth of this is only gleaned through snatches of memory, and we embark upon a voyage of discovery with Annie, one that feeds into the key mystery of this whole story.Told using a dual timeline narrative, we are led through Annie’s life, both her childhood and her current life. The scenes from the past go a long way to establishing Annie’s backstory and the reasons why her premonitions have lain dormant for so long. The present day is laced with an undercurrent of unease, a slow building sense of dread that is enhanced by the appearance of some faces from Lewis and Annie’s past. Contrasting a modern religious fervour and internet evangelism against the more pagan elements of Annie’s ‘gift’ add to the atmosphere and suspense that have been building since the opening chapter.The author plays a canny game with this book, employing sleight-of-hand to misdirect, keeping the truth from our attention until just the right moment. The mystery is kept alive through journal entries from one of Annie and Lewis’ ancestors, one that gives more insight into the family curse. With hints of witchcraft, trickery and double crossing, it makes for a tantalising read, one where the sins of the past are every bit as compelling as the shocking revelations that are to play out in the present. I love Mr M’s writing, and the way in which he brings each timeline to life, leaving my spine tingling at just the right moment, and drawing me to the edge of my seat so often in moments of high tension, that I really was in fear of falling right off it.The Murmurs is a story of murder and of injustice, both historic and current. Of family secrets and the lengths to which people will go in order to protect them, all wrapped in a shroud of mystery, and bolstered by a touch of the otherworldly. If you like your stories beautifully crafted, with a hint of witchcraft and stories of the unexpected, then this will be for you. Another brilliant read by an author who manages to adapt his style with every new book, whilst retaining that almost lyrically descriptive styling, and who is always firmly on the must read list for me. Definitely recommended.

Just when you think you've solved the mystery, all of your assumptions are upended in this fast paced thriller. Great characters, fascinating well-written plot, great fun read.

I hadn't read anything by Michael J Malone prior to The Murmurs, but I will definitely be delving into his back catalogue in the future.It was the word "gothic" that drew me, and the premise of the book. Curses, psychic visions. What's not to like?The Murmurs is a gripping, tension filled read. The story is told across several timelines and from several perspectives, but it is easy to follow and grabs you right from the first page. It is as much psychological thriller as gothic thriller. It ticked a lot of boxes for me.