The Murmurs: The most compulsive, chilling gothic thriller you'll read this year… (The Annie Jackson Mysteries Book 1)

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.

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.

In The Murmurs, by Michael J. Malone, we meet Annie Jackson. In her late twenties, she develops an undesirable condition, seemingly out of the blue: if she meets someone for whom death is imminent, she experiences a disturbing vision of their final moments.Through conversations and research with her twin brother Lewis, Annie not only learns that she previously had such visions at the age of 12 – before the traumatic car crash that killed their mother and locked away Annie’s memories – but that other women in her family suffered similarly, and were confined to hospitals as a result of their “madness”.Scenes from Annie’s childhood in the small, religious Scottish town of Mossgow, and the early years of her parents’ marriage, as well as a memoir written in 1818 by one of her ancestors, Moira, reveal that she has a bona fide curse – the eponymous “murmurs” – passed down the generations, and how this came to tear her family apart.In the present day, meanwhile, the fact of her recently-recovered memories threatens to put Annie in grave danger.The Murmurs is chock-full of thrilling Gothic elements and tropes. Witchcraft! A centuries-old curse! Scary visions! Secret family members! Tragedy! Memory loss! A creepy man of the cloth! Old-fashioned mental hospitals! Hard-faced nuns! I could hardly put it down.Right from the start, I was captivated by the scary idea of the murmurs. I was agog as Annie experienced her first vision as an adult and attempted to avert the events she foresaw, only for them to play out as envisioned anyway, and found her reaction to this realistic and proportionate.I enjoyed the scenes from Annie’s childhood and just before, which are brimming with fascinating drama and details that become important later on, while Moira’s account of the falling-out of an earlier set of twins has the feeling of a fairy tale.I really liked Annie as a character, sympathising with her frustration about all that had been kept from her over the years, understanding her reactions to the trauma she went through as a child, and admiring her courage and will to live a normal life despite her curse.I also appreciated how Annie had a good relationship with Lewis, as well as the family friends who took the pair in following their father’s death, not long after the loss of their mother. In addition to providing much-needed support, Annie’s brother and adoptive parents counter the tragedy in her life with comfort, stability, and joy.This book is absolutely gripping, with cliffhangers, tension, and surprising revelations at virtually every turn. However, there were points where the author might have eased off on this without making the story any less compelling.Annie and Lewis encounter a lot of people who withhold or ration important information. This is understandable in many cases, especially when they’re younger. In a few cases, though, it’s harder to explain, and just seems to create un-needed extra suspense for the reader, and avoidable worry and grief for the poor twins.Convenience is also a bit of an issue, with Annie not foreseeing every imminent death in her vicinity, and the police/CPS playing fast and loose with evidence, and being either too credulous or too disbelieving, in service of the plot. Again, I think these could have been resolved without detriment to the story.The Murmurs is a thrilling and gripping novel, teeming with Gothic hallmarks.

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!

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.

A complex story that had my attention from the first page and a storyline that held my interest til the end

An excellent opening and a very fine read. Beautifully crafted with the obligatory twists closing out the finale. Well worth a pick-up or purchase.