The Whispering Muse
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- Create Date：2023-03-16 06:53:26
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Laura Purcell
- ISBN：1526627191
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Summary
It is said that the lead actress Lilith has made a pact with Melpomene， the tragic muse of Greek mythology， to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage。 Suspicious of Lilith， the jealous wife of the theatre owner sends dresser Jenny to spy on her， and desperate for the money to help her family， Jenny agrees。
What Jenny finds is a woman as astonishing in her performance as she is provocative in nature。 On stage， it's as though Lilith is possessed by the characters she plays， yet off stage she is as tragic as the Muse who inspires her， and Jenny， sorry for her， befriends the troubled actress。 But when strange events begin to take place around the theatre， Jenny wonders if the rumours are true， and fears that when the Muse comes calling for payment， the cost will be too high。
What Jenny finds is a woman as astonishing in her performance as she is provocative in nature。 On stage， it's as though Lilith is possessed by the characters she plays， yet off stage she is as tragic as the Muse who inspires her， and Jenny， sorry for her， befriends the troubled actress。 But when strange events begin to take place around the theatre， Jenny wonders if the rumours are true， and fears that when the Muse comes calling for payment， the cost will be too high。
Reviews
Elian
，
Purcell successfully made me spooked and sad which is not an easy combo
Ray
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Lara purcells， has claimed this territory of dark and unhinged kind of dementia of writings， it is so un peacefully good that i absolutely couldnt put this book down once i started reading， it is like it held me i couldnt stop， infact i didnt want to stop。Excellence is this book really
Sarah Henden
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I absolutely loved every second of this read。 Such a page turner。 Purcell’s best book yet！
Alanna
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3。5 - I love Laura Purcell！ She’s the queen of gothic spooky。 A really enjoyable read。
Nicy
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3，5*
Layla
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Another excellent and enjoyable book from Laura Purcell， who is one of my favourite writers。
Emma
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Laura Purcell’s books are a strange one for me。 I first read ‘The Silent Companions’ a couple of years ago and found myself strangely drawn to this strange supernatural， out of the ordinary， yet ordinary world。 ‘The Whispering Muse’ is the fifth of her books I’ve now read， and I’m still so drawn to the worlds she creates。 ‘The Whispering Muse’ follows Jenny’s life as she becomes a dresser after the wife of the theatre owner sends her to spy on the new leading actress， Lilith。 This book really ma Laura Purcell’s books are a strange one for me。 I first read ‘The Silent Companions’ a couple of years ago and found myself strangely drawn to this strange supernatural， out of the ordinary， yet ordinary world。 ‘The Whispering Muse’ is the fifth of her books I’ve now read， and I’m still so drawn to the worlds she creates。 ‘The Whispering Muse’ follows Jenny’s life as she becomes a dresser after the wife of the theatre owner sends her to spy on the new leading actress， Lilith。 This book really makes your head spin with which characters you are meant to like and who you are meant to dislike。 As with her other books， I find it so clever how Laura Purcell weaves the gothic into everyday stories and I think that’s why I enjoy them so much。 They always have a heart racing moment and this one has a bit of Greek mythology too if that’s your thing， and whilst it’s not really mine， it does create a very spooky plot line…I did want a bit more from the ending but only because I wanted to know what happened next！ 。。。more
Toni Kely-Brown
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I keep reading Laura Purcell's books even though they never live up to expectations！ I keep falling for the beautiful books covers and book summary。 They always sound like the perfect read for me but never are！ I'm not sure why I keep persevering with them。The Whispering Muse was okay but there was no twists or turns。 I thought the gothic theatre setting and couple of horror scenes were done well but the characters were bland and I didn't like the main protaganist。 It didn't always ring true tha I keep reading Laura Purcell's books even though they never live up to expectations！ I keep falling for the beautiful books covers and book summary。 They always sound like the perfect read for me but never are！ I'm not sure why I keep persevering with them。The Whispering Muse was okay but there was no twists or turns。 I thought the gothic theatre setting and couple of horror scenes were done well but the characters were bland and I didn't like the main protaganist。 It didn't always ring true that someone of her "class" would be able to interact with others as she did。 Not a bad read but not a good one either。 。。。more
Indieflower
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Here I am， stranded on outlier island again。 I never thought I'd say this about a Laura Purcell book， but I'm a kinda disappointed。 I've been itching to get my mitts on this for ages （blown out by Netgalley 😕） but I have to say， for quite a while I was on the verge of chucking in the towel， it was only the feeling that I just couldn't dnf something by this author that made me soldier on， luckily at about 50% it finally hooked me enough to want to continue。 That's a heck of a long time to wait。 T Here I am， stranded on outlier island again。 I never thought I'd say this about a Laura Purcell book， but I'm a kinda disappointed。 I've been itching to get my mitts on this for ages （blown out by Netgalley 😕） but I have to say， for quite a while I was on the verge of chucking in the towel， it was only the feeling that I just couldn't dnf something by this author that made me soldier on， luckily at about 50% it finally hooked me enough to want to continue。 That's a heck of a long time to wait。 Turns out I didn't feel much for the main character， and although I loved the setting， and the mad actress Lilith was worth her weight in gold， the writing seemed a bit soulless and flat， it didn't come alive for me， and the Victorian timeframe didn't always feel quite right。 3 stars though， as I was entertained eventually， oh and not forgetting 5 stars for that bloody gorgeous cover。 。。。more
Diane Chilton
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Not my usual kind of book but I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic atmospheric novel。 I found my views on the good and the bad changing significantly through the novel。 Looking forward to the next offering from this author。
Holli
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4。5
Karen Brown
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I was excited to read this book as I’m a fan of Laura Purcell’s gothic stories。 While I did really enjoy this one， I didn’t love it quite as much as previous books。 I’m not sure why。 I’d still recommend to those that like historical gothic reads。 Thank you to #NetGalley and #BloomsburyPublishing for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review。
Sarah
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Fast paced， mythological drama with well rounded characters， that keep you guessing！ I am quite specific in the type of hardcover books I buy - in that they have to really intrigue me， for me to make room on my shelf for them， but this one has a home forever！ I’d been in a book slump and this well and truly pulled me out of it！ Straight to the point， gets your head in the story immediately， sly and cunning with a twist of faith and myth running right through。 I will be reading everything else La Fast paced， mythological drama with well rounded characters， that keep you guessing！ I am quite specific in the type of hardcover books I buy - in that they have to really intrigue me， for me to make room on my shelf for them， but this one has a home forever！ I’d been in a book slump and this well and truly pulled me out of it！ Straight to the point， gets your head in the story immediately， sly and cunning with a twist of faith and myth running right through。 I will be reading everything else Laura Purcell has to offer， as I’m very impressed by this offering！ 。。。more
Liam Xavier
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With all the mystery， melodrama， and theatrical greed of Phantom of the Opera， the whispering muse is a fun book with a strong collection of layers。 Its characters all have something to lose， and we see how each， at some point， wrestles with the addictive， eden-snake-goading delicacy of pride， greed， and success。Judgement riddles through the veins of everyone， but self-awareness turns a blind eye until it's too late。 Purcells writing is poetic but accessible。 It's - aptly - hard to put down and With all the mystery， melodrama， and theatrical greed of Phantom of the Opera， the whispering muse is a fun book with a strong collection of layers。 Its characters all have something to lose， and we see how each， at some point， wrestles with the addictive， eden-snake-goading delicacy of pride， greed， and success。Judgement riddles through the veins of everyone， but self-awareness turns a blind eye until it's too late。 Purcells writing is poetic but accessible。 It's - aptly - hard to put down and as we read of the ways in which the beauty and joy of theater becomes spoiled by the desire of perfectionism and fame， we crave to keep turning to the next page。 It's a book of addiction and devoted intensity where the key question of 'How far will they go？' Is answered by an increasingly perilous silence。 。。。more
Becky Wright
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Full review to follow。But， in short。。。 what an utterly brilliant book！
Karen
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Brilliant gothic horror novel set in 19th/early 20th century theatre land。
dmayr
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This watch didn't just inspire tragic acting; it seemed to bring tragedy in its wake。 I've only read The Silent Companions but that book was dripping with atmosphere and horror。 This book felt superficial and was just like ticking the boxes: a demonic pact， evil possession complete with scratch marks on the wall and festering wounds， and a convenient， predictable ending。 This watch didn't just inspire tragic acting; it seemed to bring tragedy in its wake。 I've only read The Silent Companions but that book was dripping with atmosphere and horror。 This book felt superficial and was just like ticking the boxes: a demonic pact， evil possession complete with scratch marks on the wall and festering wounds， and a convenient， predictable ending。 。。。more
Annarella
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A dark， atmospheric， creepy story， disturbing at times and always gripping。 There's a lot going on in this book and there're powerful and well plotted female characters like Lilith and Jenny。I couldn't help feeling for Lilith， the artist and the misunderstood woman and I felt for Jenny who's involved in a story that it's not hers。The theatre is background but it's also a sort of non human characters。Laura Purcell delivers another great story。Highly recommended。Many thanks to the publisher for th A dark， atmospheric， creepy story， disturbing at times and always gripping。 There's a lot going on in this book and there're powerful and well plotted female characters like Lilith and Jenny。I couldn't help feeling for Lilith， the artist and the misunderstood woman and I felt for Jenny who's involved in a story that it's not hers。The theatre is background but it's also a sort of non human characters。Laura Purcell delivers another great story。Highly recommended。Many thanks to the publisher for this arc， all opinions are mine 。。。more
Jackie Robinson
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GOODNESS GRACIOUS
Nikki
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3。5* wow that didn’t feel like a Laura Purcell book。 Flat characters， a somewhat boring storyline and a predictable， rushed ending。
MJ1st
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Fun， quick read。 Didn't blow me away Fun， quick read。 Didn't blow me away 。。。more
S
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My favourite Laura Purcell book！ Such atmosphere！ It's a shame I had to finish it。 My favourite Laura Purcell book！ Such atmosphere！ It's a shame I had to finish it。 。。。more
Kelly Pells
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I’m always apprehensive about picking up a Laura Purcell book， as I always hope – but am inevitably disappointed – that the next one will be as good as The Silent Companions。 And The Whispering Muse comes closest by far。 This spooky， atmospheric novel takes us backstage at a Victorian theatre and explores the lengths ambitious people will go to to achieve their dreams。 It’s creepy and gothic， tinged with the supernatural， and exceptionally bloody at times， and the characters are flawed and compe I’m always apprehensive about picking up a Laura Purcell book， as I always hope – but am inevitably disappointed – that the next one will be as good as The Silent Companions。 And The Whispering Muse comes closest by far。 This spooky， atmospheric novel takes us backstage at a Victorian theatre and explores the lengths ambitious people will go to to achieve their dreams。 It’s creepy and gothic， tinged with the supernatural， and exceptionally bloody at times， and the characters are flawed and compelling。 。。。more
Anna-Lisa
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DNF - Not worth my Time。 Lacking all the atmosphere the other books by this author have。
Weneedtotalkaboutbooks
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This was a clear impulsive cover-buy and I never learn from my mistakes。 The Whispering Muse is a predictable， fun and engaging gothic tale。 Another take on the classic path with the devil and what does that entail。 Good atmosphere， a couple of horrific scenes and a strong start made me think this would be right up my alley。 Unfortunately， the characters were a bit one dimensional， and the ending was way too predictable for me， which is why I’m giving it a two stars。 I would recommend this book This was a clear impulsive cover-buy and I never learn from my mistakes。 The Whispering Muse is a predictable， fun and engaging gothic tale。 Another take on the classic path with the devil and what does that entail。 Good atmosphere， a couple of horrific scenes and a strong start made me think this would be right up my alley。 Unfortunately， the characters were a bit one dimensional， and the ending was way too predictable for me， which is why I’m giving it a two stars。 I would recommend this book to fans of gothic tales and theatre kids looking for a fun light-horror time。 If you'd like to explore some other gothic novels， I'd recommend to start with Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier， or The woman in black by Susan Hill， or Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia。 For fans of horror and theatre: All’s Well by Mona Awad。 。。。more
Vix （Goddess of Gore）
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"well this one is a monster sent to torment me。 I won't shelter it inside me any longer。 Can't you see？ I'm suffocating here。 I'll shrivel away。 And there will be nothing left except this damned whispering inside my head。" Laura Purcell writes her usual impeccable style about a Victorian London family that has lost almost everything until good fortune comes their way。 Jenny is given a chance that almost seems too good to be true to work in the theatre dressing the leading lady by the theatre man "well this one is a monster sent to torment me。 I won't shelter it inside me any longer。 Can't you see？ I'm suffocating here。 I'll shrivel away。 And there will be nothing left except this damned whispering inside my head。" Laura Purcell writes her usual impeccable style about a Victorian London family that has lost almost everything until good fortune comes their way。 Jenny is given a chance that almost seems too good to be true to work in the theatre dressing the leading lady by the theatre manager's husband。 Several terms are placed upon employment， how far will Jenny go to keep her family from the poor house？ And is the manager's wife all she seems too？ It didn't take long for me to feel at home within jenny's world。 The writing was beautiful， I found myself sympathetic to the characters which is always something I struggle with， and I found myself eager to find out how the story would play out。 。。。more
M。P。 Conn
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Read this in two days。。。 Like all of Purcell´s novels it was amazing， entertaining， addictive。
ike pauh
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 First Laura Purcell book where we had only one character's perspective。 Unlike her previous offerings， The Whispering Muse feels more of a "straight-forward" （？） read because there is no playing with time （flashbacks， two timelines）。 Wow I knew theater folk were superstitious lot with the whole "break a leg" thing but there truly is more to it。 How thrilling！ The class divide in The Whispering Muse also feels smaller。。。perhaps because it centers on the workers of a theater and the owners of the First Laura Purcell book where we had only one character's perspective。 Unlike her previous offerings， The Whispering Muse feels more of a "straight-forward" （？） read because there is no playing with time （flashbacks， two timelines）。 Wow I knew theater folk were superstitious lot with the whole "break a leg" thing but there truly is more to it。 How thrilling！ The class divide in The Whispering Muse also feels smaller。。。perhaps because it centers on the workers of a theater and the owners of the theater themselves are not thatttt high up in the food chain of society。 Additionally， our Jennifer Wilcox is direct in her manner and actions and doesn't let resentments poison her mind。 She stands up for herself and fights back。。 At the same time， she is crafty enough to balance working with all the three people who ask/demand her to do their bidding。 Jenny is best defined by the emoji with dollar bills as eyes。 Eventually her morality catches up and she is able to relate to the person she's supposed to "take out"。 All this "I can relate" has them bonding （？）。 However， I hesitate to call them friends。I love The Silent Companions with all my heart and have yet to find another Laura Purcell book to eclipse it。 Similar to Bone China， to me。。。The Whispering Muse's ending happens out of nowhere。 Bone China still shocks me to this day。 This book has me wondering what alternative endings the author probably had。 I guess I could read on and on is what I am saying。 Despite that， Laura Purcell delivers greatness every single time she releases a book。 Could be the vibes， the characters， the story。 I look forward to her next book whenever that is！ 。。。more
Moira
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Superb gothic， atmospheric tale。 Well written， just brilliant。
tobes
，
This was it！
tpg0
，
As an AI language model， I am not capable of forming opinions or preferences。 However， I can provide you with some information about the book 'The Whispering Muse' by Sjón。 'The Whispering Muse' is a novel by Icelandic author Sjón， translated into English by Victoria Cribb。 It was first published in Icelandic in 2005 and later translated and published in English in 2012。 The book tells the story of a sea voyage from Oslo to Istanbul and explores themes of mythology， history， and cultural clashes。 The main character， Valdimar Haraldsson， is a mid-twentieth century purveyor of Icelandic fish culture who is fleeing from the disruption of WWII。 On the ship， he meets a variety of intriguing characters and is swept into a world of mythical stories and ancient wisdom， giving him a completely new perspective on life。 The novel is both witty and poignant， and it showcases Sjón's talent for blending ancient lore with contemporary themes in a unique and entertaining way。
tpg1
，
As an AI language model， I don't have personal opinions or emotions， but I can tell you that 'The Whispering Muse' is a novel by Icelandic author Sjón， first published in 2005。 The book blends elements of mythology and surrealism， as well as non-fiction historical sections。 It follows the story of Valdimar Haraldsson， an Icelandic writer who joins a group of eccentric travelers on board the ship Eliza， where they share stories of their past while searching for the legendary river of milk。 The novel received critical acclaim and was translated into several languages。
tpg2
，
As an AI language model， I am not capable of having personal opinions or feelings regarding any book， including 'The Whispering Muse' by Icelandic author Sjon。 However， I can provide some information about the book。 'The Whispering Muse'， published in 2005， is a novel that mixes elements of myth， history， and adventure in a tale set in the 1940s。 The story follows the journey of Valdimar Haraldsson， an Icelandic scholar， who boards a ship to Greece to uncover the secrets of the gods' existence。 On the ship， he encounters a crew of eclectic and mysterious characters， including the enigmatic philosopher Theobald， who claims to have found the script of a lost poem of the Greek poet Homer。 Haraldsson becomes obsessed with the poem's discovery and the idea of divine inspiration， leading him on a strange and surreal voyage。 'The Whispering Muse' has received critical acclaim and has been translated into several languages。 It is known for its poetic language， intriguing characters， and its blend of mythology and history。 The book won the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2005 and was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in 2012。
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Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Whispering Muse
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Whispering Muse&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Whispering Muse&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0