PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN ON THE 14th OCTOBER 2021
On the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea, Elspeth Swansome takes on a position as a nanny.
Her charge, Mary, hasn’t uttered a word since the sudden death of her twin, William – just days after their former nanny disappeared. But no one will speak of what happened to William.
Just as no one can explain the lullabies sung in empty corridors.
Nor the strange dolls that appear in abandoned rooms.
Nor the faint whistling that comes in the night . . .
As winter draws in, Elspeth finds herself increasingly trapped.
But is this house haunted by the ghosts of the past?
OR THE SECRETS OF THE LIVING . . .
Rebecca Netley grew up as part of an eccentric family in a house full of books and music, and these things have fed her passions.
Family and writing remain at the heart of Rebecca’s life. She lives in Reading with her husband, sons and an over-enthusiastic dog, who gives her writing tips.
The Whistling is Rebecca Netley’s debut novel and won the Exeter Novel Prize.
This had me until the end as every time I thought I had worked it out it all went wrong, I couldn’t put this down as it hooks you right in with so many questions. The characters were so right for this story and made it very good, also the environment as this is what you expect from a thriller. Pretty good for a first novel so will be interesting to see what Rebecca does next.