Night Whispers [Mass Market Paperback]

Judith McNaught (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999

Nine New York Times bestsellers and more than twenty million books in print have affirmed Judith McNaught's stature as the reigning monarch of superb storytelling. Now, she creates breathtaking suspense and harrowing plot twists In her most masterful, enthralling novel yet.

Night Whispers

A policewoman in a small Florida community, Sloan Reynolds knows that her modest upbringing was a long way from the social whirl of Palm Beach, the world inhabited by her father and her sister, Paris. Total strangers to Sloan, they have never tried to contact her -- until a sudden invitation arrives, to meet them and indulge in the Palm Beach social season.

A woman who values her investigative work more than a Dior dress, Sloan is unmoved by the long-overdue parental gesture. But when FBI agent Paul Richardson informs her that her father and his associates are suspected of fraud, conspiracy, and murder, Sloan agrees to enter into her father's life -- while hiding her true profession.

Sloan's on top of her game until she meets Noah Maitland, a multinational corporate player and one of the FBI's prime suspects -- and finds herself powerfully attracted to him, against her deepest instincts. When a shocking murder shatters the seductive facade of the wealth and glamour surrounding her, Sloan must maneuver through a maze of deceit and passion, to find someone to trust -- and to decipher the truth behind those terrifying whispers in the dark.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

After 30 years, Sloan Reynolds is about to meet the father she never knew. Claiming that his ill health has led him to attempt reconciliation, Carter Reynolds invites Sloan to meet him and his other daughter, Paris, in the glamorous world of Palm Beach, Florida. With all the sense and courage that her job as a cop requires, Sloan refuses the invitation, convinced that nothing good could come from meeting her absentee father. But when FBI agent Paul Richardson intervenes and explains that Reynolds is under suspicion, she agrees to enter the world of the social elite in order to help investigate her father.

Prepared to hate Palm Beach and all its inhabitants, Sloan is surprised to find herself drawn towards Paris, her cranky great-grandmother, and Paris's neighbors, the Maitland family--particularly Noah Maitland. Noah has all the characteristics of Mr. Perfect, which is exactly what scares Sloan. How could someone so sophisticated, smart, and handsome be attracted to her?

But just as the two begin to explore their attraction, Sloan's hopes for her new family and friends crumble. Paul closes in on the dark truth about Carter Reynolds and his suspicions expand to include Noah. Soon, Sloan is an unwilling accomplice in the investigation against Noah, and when a horrible murder occurs, she just may be the next victim.

Bestselling author Judith McNaught has all the ingredients for a great romantic thriller in Night Whispers: the handsome and not-quite-aboveboard hero, the optimistic lady-cop, a handful of exotic and unreadable socialites, and all in all she delivers the goods. Even so, the fact that nearly everyone couples off at the end feels slightly trite, and the motivations of the true killer are somewhat unconvincing. Apart from these minor flaws, Night Whispers remains an entertaining and certainly worthwhile read. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Sloan Reynolds's simple life as a detective with the Bar Harbour, FL, police department is turned upside down when the father that abandoned her returns to her world and decides he wants to get to know her. At the same time an FBI agent shows up claiming that her father is involved in fraudulent activities (and perhaps murder) and asks her to help in the investigation. Little does Sloan know that she will end up being framed for murder and falling in love with a person she believes is helping her father in his criminal dealings. Though the premise seems interesting, the story is not; it meanders along to a predictable conclusion. The abridgment may be to blame as it seems that much is left out that might help make the tale more suspenseful. Reader Enid Graham does a fine job with what she hasAwhich is not a lot. Since McNaught is a popular author (Perfect, Audio Reviews, LJ 6/1/93), this may be a tape to buy for patron demand; otherwise, it's not a necessary purchase.ADanna Bell-Russel, Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671525743
• ISBN-13: 978-0671525743
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (226 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judith McNaught is the New York Times bestselling author who first soared to stardom with her stunning bestseller Whitney, My Love, and went on to win the hearts of millions of readers with Once and Always, Something Wonderful, A Kingdom of Dreams, Almost Heaven, Paradise, Perfect, Until You, Remember When, the #1 bestseller Night Whispers, Someone to Watch Over Me, and other novels. There are more than thirty million copies of her books in print. Judith McNaught lives in Houston.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this one, January 21, 2002

By 

Pam from Texas - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Night Whispers (Mass Market Paperback)

My daughter, Angelique, gave me this book ages ago and keeps asking if I have read it yet. I should have listened to her because it was very enjoyable. After 30 years of silence, Sloan Reynolds, a policewoman, receives a phone call and invitation from her father, Carter Reynolds. A member of the rich jet set, he wants Sloan to come out to Palm Beach to get to know him and her sister. At first Sloan refuses, furious that he has called after all this time. When FBI agent Paul Richardson shows up and explains that Reynolds is under investigation, she agrees to meet her father and work undercover. Along the way Sloan meets multimillionaire, Noah Maitland, and falls in love. She also gets to know her sister, Paris, who was taken away by her father when they were babies. The only thing that bothers Sloan is she can't tell Noah or her sister that she is really a policewoman.

The book has suspense, romance, and a murder that kept me turning the pages. Now I know why Judith McNaught is one of Angelique's favorite writers. She has already recommended another
book for me to read.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet and Rather Rushed, May 14, 2000

By 

Kelly (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Whispers (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked up *Night Whispers* because I usually love her books, but this one left me with some questions on what she was thinking. When Sloan and Noah meet, I didn't see any real attraction between them, only lust. Also, Paul Richardson was annoying, and you wonder how he could make the same mistake twice (in *Perfect*, he also acused the hero of a crime and makes the heroine think the worst). And, all he says is, "Oops! I'm soory!". At least in *Night Whispers*, he didn't make the heroine gravel in front of the hero. But there are a lot of reasons why I gave this book four stars...

1. I don't think Judith McNaught can actually write a terrible book. 2. Courtney was great and really kept Noah grounded. 3. Sloan had a mind of her own most of the time and she was really three dimensional. 4. The side characters and plots were all well written and interesting.

*Night Whispers* is really a good book, but it's not the best by Judith Mcnaught. If you want something better, try *Almost Heaven*, *Whitney, My Love*, and *Until You*

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Day Yells, December 8, 2003

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Whispers (Mass Market Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed Night Whispers. I had no clue what the title had to do with the book; it could have been "The Day Yells" and made as much sense. When it started, I almost stopped reading. I thought it was going to be about a woman and a stalker. Then we find out that the stalker is F.B.I. agent Paul Richardson. From there the plot takes off like a skyrocket. I found myself repeatedly squeezing in an extra 15 minutes of reading time so I could down one more chapter. While a bit escapist since the characters are often rich and beautiful, McNaught's style is nevertheless gripping. Her sense of pacing, suspense and surprise were wonderful. The character Courtney was wonderful with her sassy teenage observations and way of saying what everyone else is too polite to articulate. I also fell in love with the caustic 95-year old great grandmother who is used to having her way, old enough not to care what people think, rich enough to do as she likes, and yet warms to the independently minded Sloan who is not used to being anyone else's woman. I was really sad when granny took the bullet. Slightly less than believable that for as gorgeous as Sloan is written to be and at age 30, she is so inexpert at the ways of romance. However, it sweetens the love affair with Noah who I was not sure whether to root for or vilify until right at the end. Jessup is an interesting character; and his battle with best friend Sara is given great detail even though a minor plot line. Sloan was utterly delightful and believable as a main character. This is a great book that keeps you wanting to turn the page to see what will happen next as McNaught supplies us with a roller coaster-like plot of twists and turns. I found the support of friends for Sloan in times of trouble to be a great and important universal theme. I hope you enjoy this as much as I!