Promotional Information

Be careful what you wish for... it may just come true.

The Whispering Muse is a spellbinding novel inspired by Greek mythology, Faust, and The Phantom of the Opera from the award winning, Sunday Times bestseller, Laura Purcell

About the Author

Laura Purcell is a former bookseller living in Colchester, Essex with her husband and pet guinea pigs. She is the author of six previous novels, among them Gothic novel The Silent Companions, which was a Radio 2 and Zoe Ball ITV Book Club pick and The Shape of Darkness, winner of the inaugural Fingerprint Award for Historical Crime Book of the Year. Her short story ‘The Chillingham Chair’ was included in The Haunting Season anthology, which was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. She also wrote 'Roanoake Falls', a dramatic podcast for Realm, working with John Carpenter and Sandy King Carpenter.

Reviews

Spooky, atmospheric, brilliant ... Think I love it the best out of all Laura's books. Watch out for it - but beware...
*Bridget Collins, author of number one bestseller, THE BINDING*

Atmospheric, gripping, absorbing – The Whispering Muse is another Gothic triumph from Laura Purcell. It's deliciously creepy, riveting and full of heart with compelling characters and brilliant twists. The theatrical setting and use of the tragedies on stage that are woven expertly into the unfolding story is glitteringly dark and mesmerising
*Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of ARIADNE and ELEKTRA*

Laura Purcell has done it again. An actress sells her soul for fame and success. Dripping in atmosphere, gloriously gothic'
*Erin Kelly, Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She Said*

Darkly seductive and artfully realised, this is a novel which in true Purcell style weaves a menacing net of intrigue that makes it very hard to put down. Undoubtedly her best Gothic tale yet!
*Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of number one bestseller, PANDORA*

In The Whispering Muse, Laura Purcell has crafted a totally immersive take on the Faustus myth - dark and disturbing, but with so much heart. Her best yet.
*Beth Underdown, author of THE WITCHFINDER'S SISTER and THE KEY IN THE LOCK*

Dripping with atmosphere and mounting dread, The Whispering Muse will haunt you long past the final page. Laura Purcell is a master of her craft. I still have goosebumps!
*Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS*

A gothic masterpiece. Gripping, atmospheric and with an absolutely sensational ending, I loved every single page of this wonderful book
*Elodie Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf Den Trilogy*

Every bit as sinister and macabre as we’ve come to expect from a novel by Laura Purcell
*Rosie Andrews, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Leviathan*

Another fantastic outing for Laura Purcell in this gripping, theatrical drama – fabulous characters, twists and turns aplenty. Deliciously dark and very satisfying
*Rebecca Netley, author of THE WHISTLING*

Deliciously creepy and vividly told, this gorgeous Gothic tale is already one of my favourite books of the year.
*JJA Harwood, author of THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS*

I have rarely read anything that burns so vividly, so fierce and bright – it is profoundly affecting. I felt it all - the agonising passion of creation and the sacrifice of everything for the sake of it. I read it feverishly throughout a plane journey and got my luggage with one hand while holding the book in the other, inhaling the last pages. The Whispering Muse is a sinuous, dark spell of a story that left me reeling
*Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless Street*

A sumptuous piece of gothic theatre set in a theatre populated by the beautiful and the damned. Something wicked very much this way comes. Fabulous
*Sarah Pinborough, author of Behind Her Eyes*

Wonderful… I stayed up into the wee small hours finishing it, and absolutely loved it. I am generally a slow reader but this was one of those rare books I kept finding myself called back to, or unable to stop reading even though it was way past lights out
*James Oswald, author of the Inspector Maclean series*

Her darkest and most delicious yet. A chilling Faustian tale of rumour, obsession and ambition set in the shadowy world of London theatre in the nineteenth century. Laura Purcell gets better and better with every book
*Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl*

Welcome to the Mercury Theatre where jealousy and ambition tread the boards and tragedy steals the limelight. The Whispering Muse is deftly written, wonderfully atmospheric and just a touch gruesome. I devoured it
*Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose*

The Whispering Muse is a delightful gothic treat packed with drama, mystery and dread. I couldn't get enough of the spooky events at the Mercury Theatre; Laura Purcell really is a master of the unsettling ghost story
*Jen Williams*

An absolutely delicious read. Both haunting and tragic, this is an unputdownable gothic fever-dream dripping in deadly drama
*Fantasy Hive*

Life seems to imitate art at The Mercury, a theatre specialising in tragic plays – and [Jenny] had no idea what she was signing up for. Eerie throughout and surprisingly gory at times, this book is not for the fainthearted. Bursting with vibrant, believable characters and imagery that makes you feel like you’re there, the story will stay with you long after you put the book down
*The Independent*

Eerie throughout and surprisingly gory at times, this book is not for the fainthearted
*PA Media*

Swirling storytelling in the backstage machinations of the Mercury “tragic-play” Theatre Company
*The Australian Women's Weekly*

It is a gothic masterpiece, as dramatic as the theatrical world where it is set, and absolutely perfect fireside reading
*Historia*

Filled with the spooky atmosphere and period detail that Laura Purcell is known for, this is a darkly compelling and engaging story
*Essex Life*