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scrappymags's review
3.0
3 Word Summary: Cute breezy read
The Luck O’ the Irish perhaps missed the town of Lisfenora, where Ireland's latest murderer lurks in the fog or as natives call him/it "The Grey Man" (and FYI say this quietly with a heavy Irish brogue and it sounds completely badass!!). Plus, readers are visiting the town at the right time because the Matchmaker Festival is in full swing (old school Tinder for the young un's reading this) bringing along all sorts of characters with all their “issues”, aka dead bodies.
As I struggled to shake the image of a young Adrienne Barbeau scuttling about a lighthouse dodging an eerie specter (Google “The Fog”, millennials!), I considered this book and decided I define it as a "cute" mystery, or what some call a “cottage” mystery (okay, only I call it that).
Not scary. Not macabre or graphic. It's “cute” murder, sort of like Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote (seriously, Google it lazy millennials), a sort of sleepy-town story where oops - there's a dead body! There's the small town characters – the cop, the matchmaker and his long lost American daughter, the pub "crows", along with shop owners. Someone dies and then everyone in town is a suspect. (PS... remind me NEVER to visit Cabot Cove. How do the police not just follow Jessica Fletcher around all day? I mean a LOT of people die around her).
It's a little too tidy for me. The gravy? Not as dark or rich as I enjoy my mystery book “shepherd’s pie” (Is that Irish?). I like to chew on my mysteries. Savor some aroma. Truly be fed in terrifying ways. Relish some shock. This wasn't my usual flavor, but that doesn't mean there’s not a worthwhile nibble from author Lisa Alber (Damn now I'm hungry). I would highly recommend this for a quick read, beach read, light mystery lovers, etc.
The imaginative town, the setting drew me in (hello, it’s IRELAND) and the creative characters led to many possible suspects and many future books. I could easily visualize the town, the people, the beer...
However, the writing itself seemed scattered, a bit flailing in places as if the author didn't quite know where to come in for a landing with a chapter. The storyline jumped a bit frenetically. A slightly slower pace (think roller coaster, not the Tilt-a-Whirl) and the story would be improved.
Side note: I didn't read the first book and will advise that you should read the first book as a few references went over my head, but it's not completely necessary.
As always a huge thank you to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. And encouraging me to watch Murder She Wroter re-runs on the Hallmark Channel.
The Luck O’ the Irish perhaps missed the town of Lisfenora, where Ireland's latest murderer lurks in the fog or as natives call him/it "The Grey Man" (and FYI say this quietly with a heavy Irish brogue and it sounds completely badass!!). Plus, readers are visiting the town at the right time because the Matchmaker Festival is in full swing (old school Tinder for the young un's reading this) bringing along all sorts of characters with all their “issues”, aka dead bodies.
As I struggled to shake the image of a young Adrienne Barbeau scuttling about a lighthouse dodging an eerie specter (Google “The Fog”, millennials!), I considered this book and decided I define it as a "cute" mystery, or what some call a “cottage” mystery (okay, only I call it that).
Not scary. Not macabre or graphic. It's “cute” murder, sort of like Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote (seriously, Google it lazy millennials), a sort of sleepy-town story where oops - there's a dead body! There's the small town characters – the cop, the matchmaker and his long lost American daughter, the pub "crows", along with shop owners. Someone dies and then everyone in town is a suspect. (PS... remind me NEVER to visit Cabot Cove. How do the police not just follow Jessica Fletcher around all day? I mean a LOT of people die around her).
It's a little too tidy for me. The gravy? Not as dark or rich as I enjoy my mystery book “shepherd’s pie” (Is that Irish?). I like to chew on my mysteries. Savor some aroma. Truly be fed in terrifying ways. Relish some shock. This wasn't my usual flavor, but that doesn't mean there’s not a worthwhile nibble from author Lisa Alber (Damn now I'm hungry). I would highly recommend this for a quick read, beach read, light mystery lovers, etc.
The imaginative town, the setting drew me in (hello, it’s IRELAND) and the creative characters led to many possible suspects and many future books. I could easily visualize the town, the people, the beer...
However, the writing itself seemed scattered, a bit flailing in places as if the author didn't quite know where to come in for a landing with a chapter. The storyline jumped a bit frenetically. A slightly slower pace (think roller coaster, not the Tilt-a-Whirl) and the story would be improved.
Side note: I didn't read the first book and will advise that you should read the first book as a few references went over my head, but it's not completely necessary.
As always a huge thank you to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. And encouraging me to watch Murder She Wroter re-runs on the Hallmark Channel.
longtimereader's review
4.0
A small Irish town, mist, and murder. Not the other author, this one is a new author to me. She did a good job too! Meet the evil, mythical Gray Man, if you dare. The Grey Man is responsible for horrific things, and changing so many people's lives that you have to read it to get the full impact! Are the evil fey at work, or something more human?
I really liked the Irish setting, and the mute woman was such a strong character to me. I can't leave out Danny, he went through so much.
I wouldn't mind reading another book by Lisa Alber at all.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
I really liked the Irish setting, and the mute woman was such a strong character to me. I can't leave out Danny, he went through so much.
I wouldn't mind reading another book by Lisa Alber at all.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
petra_reads's review
3.0
Whispers in the Mist is set 12 months after the events of [b:Kilmoon|18334029|Kilmoon (County Clare Mystery #1)|Lisa Alber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377891550s/18334029.jpg|25881712], the first County Clare Mystery. While reading these in order will you give a better understanding of the characters of Merritt and Danny, they work fine as stand-alones as they are dealing with different mysteries.
This one starts off with the discovery of a body in a field. Is the teenage boy just one of the visitors who flock to the village of Lisfenora for the annual Matchmaking festival? Who is he and why would anybody want to kill him? Then a local teenage boy is found murdered.
Two other newcomers to the village, Gemma, a mute young woman, and her brother, Dermot, seem to have significant information local detective, Danny Ahern, needs to crack the case.
As the investigation becomes more and more complex, Danny has a hard time keeping the case separate from his private life.
I enjoyed this one more than [b:Kilmoon|18334029|Kilmoon (County Clare Mystery #1)|Lisa Alber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377891550s/18334029.jpg|25881712] because the characters were better drawn and I started to care about them. In particular, Gemma was a really intriguing character. Danny's story is developed and becomes an even more likable character. The mystery is quite a complex tale of family drama and deceit again, with several suspects and a few twists. It's suspenseful but more of a cozy mystery without anything truly dark.
Most reviewers seemed to enjoy the atmosphere and the hints about the Grey Man folklore. I didn't actually feel it added anything to the story. Also, Liam, the matchmaker, became almost superfluous for this story. So there were minor parts that felt forced but overall the plot and the characters were better developed than in the previous book. While I still feel lukewarm about Merritt, I've become fond enough of Danny and Gemma as well as Alan and his dog, I would happily read another County Clare mystery. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one starts off with the discovery of a body in a field. Is the teenage boy just one of the visitors who flock to the village of Lisfenora for the annual Matchmaking festival? Who is he and why would anybody want to kill him? Then a local teenage boy is found murdered.
Two other newcomers to the village, Gemma, a mute young woman, and her brother, Dermot, seem to have significant information local detective, Danny Ahern, needs to crack the case.
As the investigation becomes more and more complex, Danny has a hard time keeping the case separate from his private life.
I enjoyed this one more than [b:Kilmoon|18334029|Kilmoon (County Clare Mystery #1)|Lisa Alber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377891550s/18334029.jpg|25881712] because the characters were better drawn and I started to care about them. In particular, Gemma was a really intriguing character. Danny's story is developed and becomes an even more likable character. The mystery is quite a complex tale of family drama and deceit again, with several suspects and a few twists. It's suspenseful but more of a cozy mystery without anything truly dark.
Most reviewers seemed to enjoy the atmosphere and the hints about the Grey Man folklore. I didn't actually feel it added anything to the story. Also, Liam, the matchmaker, became almost superfluous for this story. So there were minor parts that felt forced but overall the plot and the characters were better developed than in the previous book. While I still feel lukewarm about Merritt, I've become fond enough of Danny and Gemma as well as Alan and his dog, I would happily read another County Clare mystery. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
varoon's review
5.0
I picked this book randomly at the library and couldn't put it down. The characters are engaging and never has a dull moment.
lindzy's review
5.0
Original Review Here
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It has been a long time since I read a murder mystery and I have to admit, Whispers in the Mist by Lisa Alber certainly drew me in. I read it in a couple of days, although that was partly because I had a long train journey. But I definitely reached the point of not wanting to go to bed until I knew who had done it.
The plot is set in a town in Ireland, where being local is all that matters. Two deaths and an attack causes fingers to point in all directions. But there is more to these murders than accidental deaths and when a mute stranger and her brother arrive in town, the case becomes even more complicated.
The characters are all likeable. Danny is your typical policeman who is determined to get the job done, even if that means confronting his suspect by breaking into their flat. With his family falling apart, he seeks redemption by solving the murders. Gemma is complicated and likeable and it is because of her I wanted the murderer caught. Merrit had the potential to be a strong character, but I felt she missed the mark a little.
The writing was extremely strong and I enjoyed the way the local dialect was included in the novel. Not to the point where you had no idea what was being said, but enough that you remembered it was set in Ireland. The tension built steadily throughout the whole novel and while I guessed one element, I didn’t work out who was behind it, or the final twist at the end.
Whispers in the Mist was an atmospheric novel. The ever-present fog and the rumours of the Grey Man gave it a haunting and chilling factor. It made the deaths seem worse and helped to conceal hope for the good characters. An effective use of scenery, for sure.
I found this to be an extremely enjoyable book. It kept me engaged, it kept me guessing and it kept me up so I could find out who had done it. A book that can prevent me from sleeping is a worthwhile read!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It has been a long time since I read a murder mystery and I have to admit, Whispers in the Mist by Lisa Alber certainly drew me in. I read it in a couple of days, although that was partly because I had a long train journey. But I definitely reached the point of not wanting to go to bed until I knew who had done it.
The plot is set in a town in Ireland, where being local is all that matters. Two deaths and an attack causes fingers to point in all directions. But there is more to these murders than accidental deaths and when a mute stranger and her brother arrive in town, the case becomes even more complicated.
The characters are all likeable. Danny is your typical policeman who is determined to get the job done, even if that means confronting his suspect by breaking into their flat. With his family falling apart, he seeks redemption by solving the murders. Gemma is complicated and likeable and it is because of her I wanted the murderer caught. Merrit had the potential to be a strong character, but I felt she missed the mark a little.
The writing was extremely strong and I enjoyed the way the local dialect was included in the novel. Not to the point where you had no idea what was being said, but enough that you remembered it was set in Ireland. The tension built steadily throughout the whole novel and while I guessed one element, I didn’t work out who was behind it, or the final twist at the end.
Whispers in the Mist was an atmospheric novel. The ever-present fog and the rumours of the Grey Man gave it a haunting and chilling factor. It made the deaths seem worse and helped to conceal hope for the good characters. An effective use of scenery, for sure.
I found this to be an extremely enjoyable book. It kept me engaged, it kept me guessing and it kept me up so I could find out who had done it. A book that can prevent me from sleeping is a worthwhile read!
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