Book Haunt

If you read the review I wrote just prior to this, you’ll see that it was for the first book in the A County Clare Mystery series. Whispers in the Mist is Book 2 of this series by Lisa Alber.

I thought the first book was a quick read but not well-developed and I wasn’t wholeheartedly enthused about reading book two in the series. But I’m glad I did. To me the tone of this book was so different that I felt as if I were reading a completely different author. In this book, the characters are fuller, richer. The atmosphere soaks you in. From the time you read the book blurb, you can tell that this book is much different from the first:

There's a whisper in the mists

 

In Lisfenora, Ireland, a strange fog has rolled in off the Atlantic. Along with the fog comes tales of Grey Man, a predatory faery of local lore who snatches innocent souls into his deadly gloom.

 

And with the mists come murder

 

When a teenage boy dies in Detective Sergeant Danny Ahern's arms, Danny finds himself pursuing his own grey man, a killer who becomes more elusive the closer Danny gets to the truth. A mute woman may be the key to solving the murder and helping Danny heal his own broken life, but first she must unlock the memories from her past.

 

Part psychological suspense, part mystery, Lisa Alber's haunting tale of family secrets and broken love won't let you go until the final twist.

We are introduced to new characters that are well-developed and sympathetic this time. I even like Merrit McCallum a bit better than I did in the first book. She seems like a kinder, less self-involved person because she shows more compassion in this book. But let me tell you, I really like the character of Danny Ahern and for me he is the real star here. As I read, I was so caught up in his emotions and the turbulence of his life. I’m super anxious to see where Lisa Alber takes us next and I do hope it has more to do with Danny Ahern and the new characters we’ve been introduced to here.

Everything about this book is much more haunting and will stay with me longer. I did figure out who the murderer was early on but the details behind who, what and why made for a good story that kept me reading. This one is more in the tradition of a good Tana French or Maeve Binchy read, and this time I did get that comfy, cozy feel that I love when reading books that take place in Ireland. The jump in this author’s writing talent from one book to the next is astonishing. If Lisa Alber’s writing keeps improving like this, she will be at the top of the best-seller lists in no time.

I want to thank the publisher (Midnight Ink) for providing me with the ARC through Netgalley for an honest review.