Book Review: A Whisper and a Curse by Darcy Burke

Raven & Wren Book 3

Hadrian Becket, the Earl of Ravenhurst, has always scorned the supernatural—until a head injury left him with the unnerving ability to see visions through touch. Though he loathes the curse, it’s proven invaluable in solving murder investigations alongside Miss Matilda Wren.

When Hadrian’s mother hires Tilda to investigate a medium who claims she can contact her late son, Tilda and Hadrian are drawn into a deadly game. Mediums across London are falling victim to the “Levitation Killer,” and the murderer’s chilling focus soon shifts to them both.

Forced to rely on his visions as never before, Hadrian must fully embrace the gift he despises—and risk everything to keep Tilda safe.

---

My Review:

I was invested in this book before I even cracked the covers open. The ending of the previous one hooked me and had me salivating to find out more. As it was, I was so thoroughly caught up in this story that I only got it half right, and completely missed the entire other half of the solution. I’m in awe of Tilda’s investigative skills and I’m utterly fascinated by all the new facets of Hadrian’s ability that he’s discovering. I love that while Hadrian’s gift/curse is helpful during their investigations, it’s not a crutch, it’s not the ultimate problem solver, and it’s just as likely to produce a fat shiny red herring as it is to give them valuable insight. I adore seeing that Tilda’s talents are being more widely recognized and appreciated. Though, the twist to close out this book has left me howling: “how can you leave us there?!” I need the next book in the series immediately, if not sooner.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book through NetGalley.