Book Review Tuesday: The Light: Wake Robin Ridge #4 @MarciaMeara, Earth’s Earliest Ages, George H. Pember, The Whisper Man @writer_north

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Warm and cozy window seat with cushions and a opened book, light through vintage shutters, rustic style home decor. Small cat on window seat, along with coffee cup by pillow, Words Book Review Tuesday superimposed over imageWow! It’s a New Year and I’m thoroughly jazzed to start off the week with my first review of 2020! Although I read these book in December, I didn’t want to share them during the hustle-bustle of Christmas for fear they would get overlooked in all the festive merriment.

Book cover for The Light by Marcia Meara shows young boy standing on a rock with hand extended toward a floating orb of lightThe Light: Wake Robin Ridge #4
by Marcia Meara

I have read and enjoyed all of Marcia Meara’s Wake Robin Ridge books, but The Light, is quite possibly my favorite. Rabbit­—a very special eleven-year-old boy who grew up in Appalachia, now the adopted son of Sarah and Mac—takes center stage yet again. Gifted with “the sight” which allows him to see future events as well as “read” others, he is wise beyond his years. An old soul who has a unique way of viewing the world, he has a folksy charm that resonates with every word he utters. Meara’s gift of writing him is exquisite, and despite numerous well-rounded and lovable characters, it’s Rabbit who steals the show.

I adore Mac and Sarah—mostly because of Rabbit’s pure-hearted love for them, and their utter devotion and fierce protective love for him. I’m enamored of several new characters who make their debut in this book—especially Austin—but once you meet Rabbit, you’re eternally smitten. No two ways about it. He’s a character who lingers long after you’ve read the last paragraph.

An added bonus is the inclusion of the Brown Mountain Lights, an unexplained phenomenon that has long fascinated me. Meara does an excellent job of weaving their appearance into a multi-layered plot which covers the gamut from high-brow society to misguided con artists.

If you like family stories with plenty of warmth, ­­­threads of the supernatural and folklore, plus a well-plotted mystery, don’t miss the latest in the Wake Robin Ridge Series. Five big glittery stars!

Amazon Link
Genre: Paranormal & Urban Fantasy > Ghost Fiction

Earth’s Earliest Ages
by George H. Pember

Book cover for Earth's Earliest Ages shows alien-looking humanoid in profile, large head, ears and eyes, three pyramids and prehistoric looking bird flying above pyramidsSomeone recommended this book to me, and I found it to be an intriguing read. Originally published in 1884, it is somewhat dense—you won’t breeze through it—but also highly interesting. The author starts at the Beginning. And I do mean THE BEGINNING, as in prior to when God said, “Let there be light.”

Pember takes the reader through the creation of Earth, the Fall, life outside the gates of Eden, the sin of Cain and the rise of Watchers or b’nai ha Elohim (“sons of God”) who mingled with humans, resulting in the birth of the Nephilim, half celestial, half human beings. All from a Biblical perspective.

He offers the belief that Nephilim (as well as Principalities of the Air) were the ancient gods of Babylonia, Egypt and Persia, as well as the gods of Rome and Greece. But there’s much more, including a close look at life leading up to the Great Flood. Later, he addresses how the sorcerers of Ancient Egypt were able to duplicate several of the plagues Moses—through God—inflicted on Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Earth’s Earliest Ages, was written in a time when Spiritualism was exploding. The first half of the book is devoted to studying Old Testament events and comparing Pember’s day to the days of Noah. The last half of the book takes an in-depth look at Spiritualism, Theosophy, and Buddhism. Although I found the section on Spiritualism interesting (due to the amount of research I did on sham aspects of the religion for a novel), I waded through the chapters on Theosophy and Buddhism. That aside, Pember offers up several interesting theories and backs them from a Biblical perspective. Despite being published over a century ago, the text has been updated through multiple editions, and still resonates with the state of our world today in many ways. 4 Stars.

Amazon Link
Genre: Nonfiction > Biblical Studies

The Whisper Man
by Alex North

Book cover for The Whisper Man by Alex North shows ragged handprint with open butterfly wings serving as palm. Blackimage on white backgroundChalk this up to one of my favorite reads of the year! After his wife dies unexpectedly, Tom Kennedy moves with his young son, Jake, to the tiny village of Featherbank in an effort to start fresh. Jake is a sensitive child, prone to talking to an imaginary friend. At first things appear to be moving in the right direction, then Tom learns that he and his son have moved into the neighborhood “scary house.” Worse, Featherbank is also the site of several child abductions and murders decades in the past. The serial killer responsible was known as the Whisper Man due to a habit of whispering to his victims outside their bedroom windows. Just before Tom and Jake settle into their new house, a young boy goes missing. Then Tom overhears Jake reciting part of a rhyme: “If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken…”

Where to begin? This is a highly suspenseful, creepy read with intricate layers. Not only do we have Tom and Jake—with Tom struggling on so many levels to be the father Jake needs—but two detective inspectors are also front and center. DI Pete Willis is the man responsible for bringing the Whisper Man to justice decades ago, and DI Amanda Beck is the lead on the current abduction case. A case that bears eerie similarities to the Whisper Man’s crimes.

Twists and turns? Oh, yes! I smugly thought I had part of the story figured out early on, only to have the proverbial rug wrenched from under me. Plus, there are HUGE surprises in store. WOW moments that induce goosebumps. I’m in awe by how expertly the author wove everything together.

Originally, I was a little cat-shy about reading a story that involved child victims, but there is nothing graphic here. The past is only touched on in a sinister, but distant way. What makes this book so unforgettable is the atmosphere North conjures in most every scene—like a storm waiting to break. The creep-factor is subtle, but deliciously wrought, and the ending delivers another jaw-dropper. If you like well-written, tightly plotted, suspenseful reads with a hint of eeriness, don’t pass up The Whisper Man. I highly recommend this one! Five whopping big stars!

Amazon Link
Genre: Horror Suspense > Ghost Mysteries > Ghost Thrillers

54 thoughts on “Book Review Tuesday: The Light: Wake Robin Ridge #4 @MarciaMeara, Earth’s Earliest Ages, George H. Pember, The Whisper Man @writer_north”

  1. I read the book where Rabbit makes his first appearance and totally fell for him. He has such a wonderful way of looking at life- a truly unforgettable character!
    The Whisper Man is near the top of my best reads of 2019- talk about twists and turns! I love butterflies, but after reading this, I’ll never look at them the same way, lol
    Fantastic reviews, Mae!

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    • So glad you enjoyed meeting Rabbit, Jacquie! He’s had two new adventures since that book, and really come into his own. (His gift of the Sight grows stronger all the time, and he’s learned so much!) Hope you have a chance to spend some time with him again one day. He’d enjoy that. 😀 😀 😀

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    • I think I first saw a review of The Whisper Man on your blog, Jacquie. I knew then I had to read it. It just took me a while to finally get there, LOL.

      And I agree with you about Rabbit. I love his philosophy of life!

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    • Hope you’ll enjoy the WRR series when you find time to read it, Harmony. I’m in the same boat, as I’m sure most of us are. SO many books, and SO little time to sit back and enjoy them! 😀

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    • The WRR books are a treat for sure. I think each of them just gets more and more intriguing. And The Light is just superb.

      As for atmospheric and creepy, The Whisper Man is a knockout. Happy reading, Harmony!

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    • I can get lost in the Old Testament, and the Nephilim have always made me wonder as well. There’s another book I’m trying to find that addresses UFOs from a Biblical perspective. I used a few references to passages from Ezekiel in a Cold Tomorrow. Just can’t seem to get the title or author right on the book I want to read, but I’m working on it!

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  6. I love that Marcia named a character Rabbit. I could totally see it given the setting. He sounds like such a great character in an equally wonderful story.

    And Earth’s Earliest Ages sounds absolutely fascinating. I like books like that, usually for research or to spur the imagination.

    Your description and review of The Whisper Man literally gave me goose bumps. So creepy! Great reviews as always! ❤️

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    • I’m glad you like his name, Tessa. He came into my head one night, already named, and it took me nearly half of the book to get him to explain to me why his grandparents called him that. 😀 (He talks to me all the time, but I don’t mind. His comments on the world are funny and sometimes deeply profound, so he’s good company!) 😀 Hope you get a chance to meet him, too. 🙂

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    • I’m glad all three of these struck a chord with you, Tessa. They were all so different, yet each one of them held me glued. I read a paperback copy of Earth’s Earliest Ages with a yellow highlighter in hand, LOL!

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  7. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful review of The Light here today, Mae, especially as part of such a widely varied and intriguing selection! I normally can’t bear to read books with child victims, but after your comment, I think I might be safe with this one. And Earth’s Earliest Ages sounds truly fascinating, though I’m not sure when I can fit it in. Still, I’m taking notes. 🙂

    Again, thanks for the insightful reviews of all of my Wake-Robin Ridge books. I dearly love those North Carolina mountains, and even though Rabbit came along in Book 2 and totally usurped my Romantic Suspense series, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed visiting that setting–and family–again and again. 🙂 ❤

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    • As I mentioned above, I absolutely love the change you made starting in book 2. Rabbit may only be eleven, but he was clearly convincing about how WRR should proceed, LOL.

      I think you’d be okay with The Whisper Man. I was worried how the author was going to handle things, but he did a great job with holding the creep factor while not going into any victimization. Underneath, the book is really about relationships. I was enthralled!

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    • Wow, I’m shocked you were disappointed in The Whisper Man, but I know that not every book appears to every reader. I am, however, thrilled that I’m added some books to your TBR, LOL!

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  10. I just finished the first book in the Wake Robin Ridge series and downloaded the second one, so I’ll be meeting Rabbit soon. I’ve seen fabulous reviews for The Whisper Man, and it looks like I’ll be adding it to my TBR. Thanks for the recs, Mae!

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    • Aw, thanks, Jacquie! I have to say I’ve learned a lot from that little mountain boy, and he makes me laugh with great regularity, even when I’m not writing about him. (Yes, he lives in my head now, and comments on everything about “this here big ol’ world I never seen nothin’ like before.” I’ll be interested in hearing what you think when/if you finally meet him. 🙂 ❤

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    • Lovely to hear, Judi, though you should know that as Book #4 in the series, The Light, while it can be read as a standalone, will likely be more enjoyable if you know what Rabbit’s been through to get to this point. His life was a complicated, unusual one, and his relationship with everyone around him has changed a good bit over time. So, just a thought, though I do have folks who read them out of order. I just hope you do get a chance to check them out, however you choose to do it. 🙂 ,3

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  13. I have been wanting to read the Wake Robin Ridge series and look forward to it. I’m like you I don’t like books with bad things happening to kids, but The Whisper Man sounds like a great read. I love to be a surprised in a story. All great reviews. Mae.

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    • Thanks, Denise. WRR is an amazing series, with a great setting and characters who will steal your heart–especially that charming boy named Rabbit!

      And The Whisper Man is one of those books that left me gasping in amazement. I will definitely be reading that author again!

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    • Earth’s Earliest Ages was a dense read, but wow, was it intriguing, Flossie. I think you’ll like it.
      And, of course, Marcia’s Wake Robin Ridge series is always a pleasure.
      Happy Reading!

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  20. Pingback: Wednesday Weirdness: The Brown Mountain Lights | From the Pen of Mae Clair

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