When
ruthless property developer Dutch Holland is offered a chance to run for Governor of
Oregon, he decides to eliminate all possible scandals in his past including that of his
three daughters’ so that no skeletons can later come to light to humiliate him. But
his daughters are not willing to tell anybody, least of all their father, as to what
happened that fatal night some sixteen years ago when Claire’s (the middle daughter)
fiancé ended up dead.
The narrative then
swings to the past and we see events unfold, gradually leading up to the tragic death of
Harley Taggart.
Miranda (the
responsible), Claire (the romantic) and Tessa (the rebel), are the three Holland daughters
who’re wealthy and yet lonely. Brought up by parents with vastly different outlooks,
they’ve all grown up with scars, some more obvious than others. Claire falls in love
with Harley, the son of Dutch’s most bitter enemy, and a sort of Romeo-Juliet kind of
romance ensues. But there is also Kane Moran, a rebel and a troublemaker towards whom
Claire feels an uncontrollable attraction. Miranda and Tessa are likewise involved with
forbidden young men and one fateful night, tragedy ensues.
Now, after all these
years, Kane Moran, who’s now a journalist, is determined to uncover the truth. In the
ensuing years, they’ve all changed, but some secrets are too dark to be revealed.
Lisa Jackson has
revamped an old novel of hers and made it longer and more intense. As a result, the new “Whispers”
is intense, dark and persuasive; and at the same time, it is gritty, especially graphic
and at times very violent. The story is very complex as it involves the lives of the three
Holland girls and the people around them. Each sister has a tale of her own, though Claire
is the center of it all and her love life is the one which provides basis for the entire
story. Numerous side characters and affairs that are even more convoluted, make this an
intricate story indeed. Family dramas abound even as infidelity rages and sexual
gymnastics ensue. None of the characters, not even the good ones, are lily-white, and
their darker sides aren’t always pleasant to read about, and yet this very fact makes
them totally convincing and realistic. The author has gone deep into the workings of each
character and as a result we are made to see not only how they tick, but also why they do
so – this is not something readers will generally in most book, at least not with
such clarity. The mystery is exceedingly well plotted and until the very end, it is
difficult to convincingly guess as to the identity of villain. The suspense builds up most
heart-throbbingly, but the ending falls a bit flat and even seems somewhat theatrical. In
spite of all this, readers will not be able to put down this book and will remember it
long after the last page has been turned.
Darkly compelling and
utterly gripping, Lisa Jackson’s revamped “Whispers” is totally
unforgettable!!
Reviewed By Rashmi
Srinivas for The Road to Romance
August 25, 2003 |
