Book Review: The House of Whispers

Mrs P

Jun 3

Anna Mazzola ~ The House of Whispers

Synopsis

Rome, 1938.

As the world teeters on the brink of war, talented pianist Eva Valenti enters the house of widower Dante Cavallera to become his new wife.

On the outside, the forces of Fascism are accelerating, but in her new home, Eva fears that something else is at work, whispering in the walls and leaving mysterious marks on Dante's young daughter.

Soon she starts to wonder whether the house itself is trying to give up the secrets of its mysterious past - secrets that Dante seems so determined to keep hidden.

However, Eva must also conceal the truth of her own identity, for if she is discovered, she will be in greater danger than she could ever have imagined...

Review

Historical fiction with a subtle injection of magic sounds promising and indeed this book started off well. The unrest and fear lurking amidst the backdrop of 1938 Italy adds to the tension throughout the story, but isn't quite enough to make this short novel pack the punch it intends.

It's an interesting concept, with a house of horror attacking the inhabitants, but it feels like more could have been done with the idea. Short books need to hit their mark quickly and conclude well; The House of Whispers has a gripping start and then some initial drama once Eva marries Dante, but this then fizzles out, leaving the end underwhelming.

Eva maintains her independence to a certain degree, but doesn't push back as much as expected. Perhaps this is because she is herself an 'undesirable' but I wanted more from her.

Her friends provide the real depth of the story and their lives and decisions are more interesting than the fantastical elements within the house, which is a shame. The historical and supernatural feel disparate and never quite work together, making the middle of the book in particular feel disconnected to the characters' stories.

Mazzola's writing is fantastic, and the book is enjoyable, but sadly it doesn't quite work.