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There are currently 63 member reviews
for Whispering Shadows
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Nanette S. (Indiana)
Whispering Shadows
Excellent story about love, loss, friendship and mystery in a culture that has changed over the years in China. The story is told from a few different points of view, which helps in discovering how the characters feel in their situations, and how they reflect with each other. Paul, an American, who has lived in China for thirty years, meets another American, who is having issues with her son and asks Paul for advice while sitting in a cafe. Paul reluctantly helps as little as possible. He is somewhat of a loner and speaks with his policeman friend to get some advise and help for the American woman so he could be rid of the problem and not have to contact her again, and this is where the mystery begins. Good story for book clubs to discuss. We have a few different topics in this story that could easily be discussed within a group.
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Robin N. (La Quinta, CA)
A Surprising and Satisfying Read
I loved The Art of Hearing Heartbeats so I was sure that I would be open to liking Whispering Shadows as well. I was so happy that the author could write very believable mystery thriller fiction but also a very soft and touching romantic story. I loved the descriptions of life in China and learned so much about the Cultural a Revolution and how it shaped China into the country that it is today. The characters were strong and very detailed. I felt like I really knew each one. The emotions of each were especially well drawn. This was a great book and delighted that this is the first of a trilogy. The descriptions of nature were beautiful. I throughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone!
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Valerie C. (Chico, CA)
Engaging
I found this book both engaging, and informative about life in China. Extremely well written.
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Janis H. (Willow Street, PA)
When do you say, "Enough is enough?"
Whispering Shadows is the perfect way to start a year of great reading. It presents a mystery to solve, but more importantly, it examines how people overcome the traumas of their past. Zhang Lin, a homicide detective, battles his demons with his humanity. Journalist Paul Leibovitz chooses seclusion to come to terms with the death of his young son. A serendipitous meeting with an American mother in search of her missing son, Michael Owen, brings the two old friends together to help her. Set in Hong Kong and China, the story line not only searches for the truth of what happened to Michael but also makes the reader question the extent of trust that friends enjoy and the damage that can result when truth must be told.
Corruption at all levels of government, residual fears left over from the China's Cultural Revolution, and a gently told love story balance this fast paced novel.
You will carry this book everywhere to read at any stolen moment. I highly recommend it.
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Neil W. (Mount Dora, FL)
Whispering Shadows
Whispering Shadows is another hit for Jan-Philipp Sender. His knowledge of Asia is clearly shown throughout the book. Paul Leibovitz's, recovering from his young son death, is thrown into issues surrounding Chinese culture, murder, corruption, love and friendship. The story is intriguing, suspenseful and fascinating. This book is well worth reading.
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Barbara C. (Riverside, CA)
I can really relate to Paul
The emotion of Paul rings true. I also had my only son taken from me. So often the death of a child in books is glossed over and people recover overnight. Everyone is different, but I can relate to his letters to Justin The main story was a good mystery. Paul's romance with Christine ties things together, and the actual resolution of the search was a surprise.
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Viqui G. (State College, PA)
Whispering Shadows
I enjoyed this novel on many levels. First of all, this mystery is tightly drawn thus the story arc is compelling and easy to follow. Secondly, the characters were very fully developed. We learn the history and motivations of not only the protagonists, but also the antagonists. The author points out that the motives the characters have in the present are complicated by their past lives, especially in the case of the Chinese characters, the trauma they all suffered as teens during the Cultural Revolution. Thirdly, the Hong Kong, Lamma Island, Shenzhen settings were so exotic that it was a delight to read and learn about them. Finally and most importantly, Sendaker writes so darn well that I could not put the book down! It has been a long while since I have read such an intriguing page turner. I strongly recommend this novel.
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