Book Review: The Hidden Whisper

For those of you missing the days of Scully and Mulder, there is at least one author who’s feeding our paranormal fiction addiction: JJ Lumsden. Written in a brisk cheeky style, his new book “The Hidden Whisper” is well worth the weekend read. Written by a parapsychologist who studied at Edinburgh University’s parapsychology department and detailing an adventure of parapsychologist Dr. Luke Jackson, the book is filled with numerous witty chapters, as well as a gigantic endnote section for those interested in learning more. At first I thought the endnotes were a bit extreme, but after flipping to it a few times while reading, I changed my mind and decided it was a welcomed addition—albeit unusual for a work of fiction.

After an introduction of the story’s main characters, the book quickly draws you in to an apparent haunting incident at the prestigious Monroe household in Arizona. What is leaving writing on the mirror in the bathroom? What’s making the noises in the house and frightening the Monroes to the point where they just want to leave their historic home? Several chapters into it over the first hour, I realized I was completely immersed in the storytelling and smiling constantly at Luke’s amusing comments and thought processes, and you will too. Most often if you pick up books written a bit more independently than those you can pick up quite easily at large book chains, you expect the writing to be quite ordinary, but not so here. It reads almost like a Michael Crichton piece, and you’ll finding yourself constantly turning pages to find out what happens next. With a definitive ending a great plotline, when you close the book you’ll hope there’s more the author will be willing to share of the world he’s creating for all of us, and soon.

One thing I do hope to see maybe sometime in the not-so-distant future is JJ Lumsden rebranding his books into a series. I want to see Luke open his investigative branch. I want to see the paranormal fringe explanation win just as often as the rational scientific explanation. Bring back the ghoulies Mr. Lumsden! Luke has the personality to make it all possible…you just have to help him write it all down. Paranormal works usually get thrown in the horror department, but as your style proves, paranormal plots don’t have to be horrific to be enjoyable.

For an independent piece, this is well worth the read. Paranormal News gives this one two thumbs up. Support the community, visit his website by clicking here and buy this book!